94 CHOOSING A POLO PONY. [Chap. IV. 



that sustained by the hind limbs, varies in proportion 

 to the weight of the rider. Hence, a weight-carrier 

 should be proportionately lighter in front than a light- 

 weight pony, and on this account will require to have 

 his shoulders particularly well sloped, which is a point 

 of conformation that will give his back the appearance 

 of being very short. For the same reason, he should 

 have a comparatively light head and neck. As the 

 weight on the fore legs also varies according as the 

 height at the withers is greater than that at the croup, 

 a pony which has to carry a heavy man should not be 

 low in front. This reasoning is supported by the 

 fact that the height at the withers as compared to that 

 at the croup, is greater in steeplechase horses, and 

 especially in hunters, than in racehorses. — Editor^ 



There are two distinct types of weight-carrying polo 

 ponies, namely, the miniature 14-stone blood hunter, 

 such as Sunshine (Fig. 41), Luna (Fig. 'i^'^ ), Matchbox 

 (Fig. 39), Siren (Fig. 42), Charlton (Fig. 43) and 

 Mademoiselle (Fig. 44) ; and the miniature weight- 

 carrying steeplechaser, such as Dynamite (Fig. 45), 

 Little Fairy (Fig. 46), the Californian pony Rex 

 (Fig. 47) and Conceit (Fig. 48), all of which are 

 up to 14 stone. All these ponies are superlatively 

 good ; but as there are ten good ones of the former 

 type, to every one of the latter, I strongly recommend 

 an intending purchaser to keep the former in his 

 mind's eye as his idea of perfection. 



The three following types of handsome ponies 

 should be avoided : — 



The first type is very beautiful, but is more suitable 

 for hacking than polo, as he is a thorough-bred weed, 

 long in the leg, light of bone, narrow between the rider's 



