THE HORSE 



109 



which a groom had neglected 

 to water. 



Ponies are found in great 

 numbers in the mountainous 

 parts of Great Britain. The 

 Shetland ponies, coming from 

 the islands of that name, are 

 the most characteristic because 

 they are the smallest. These 

 little animals, sometimes less 

 than three feet high, are much 

 used in circuses and are ridden 

 by children ; but their chief 

 employment across the seas is 

 in coal mines, where they draw 

 the tram carts. Once taken 

 down into a mine they never 

 again see the light of day ; some 

 have lived fifteen years, stabled 

 and fed underground. 



There are several other tribes 

 of ponies named for the local- 

 ities where they originate, such 

 as the E.xmoor, the New Forest, 

 the Welsh, and the Scotch 

 mountain pony. 



The English Thouocchhrki) Kunninc Horse 



Breton Pony 



Four years old 



The polo pony is of another 

 race altogether. He is exter-, 

 nally a Thoroughbred and 

 descends from one, but by birth 

 he is a half-breed. His sire is 

 usually a Thoroughbred and his 

 mother a Welsh or Irish pony. 

 A genealogical tree has been 

 drawn up for him. 



On the plains and in the fer- 

 tile valleys of England and 

 Scotland there are and have 

 been from time immemorial 

 solid, heavy, cool-blooded ani- 

 mals. The Shire horse is an 

 ancient, indigenous animal 

 whose own cool blood has been 

 mixed in the course of cen- 

 turies with Dutch or Flemish 

 blood. His true cradle is the 

 center of England, — Notting- 

 hamshire, Leicestershire, 



