and very strong in the back ; sound, hardy 

 and enduring, capable of doing much con- 

 tinuous hard work under a heavy weight on 

 indifferent food. Like the Chinese ponies, 

 they are somewhat slow, but they are 

 marvellous jumpers. 



Before the annexation of Upper Burma 

 in 1885 the lower province was dependent 

 upon the breeders of the Shan Hills and 

 on the breeders in independent Burma for 

 its ponies, as the export of stallions and 

 mares was forbidden. 



Since the annexation the Indian Govern- 

 ment have sought to improve the native 

 breed by the introduction of Arab pony 

 stallions ; the superior size and good looks 

 of the " Indo-Burman," as the cross-bred is 

 called, are, the writer understands, steadily 

 leading to the disappearance of the pure 

 Burmese. The half-bred Arab has much 

 to recommend him over the pure Burmese 

 pony in greater docility and speed; but these 

 advantages appear to have been gained at 

 some sacrifice of weight-carrying power and 

 endurance. 



Captain M. H. Hayes, in The Points of 

 the Horse, states that the ponies of Sumatra, 

 averaging about 12 hands 2 inches, are the 

 strongest for their size he has ever seen. 



