i68 BREEDS OF POLO PONIES. [Chap. VIIL 



ponies than there are now. These animals are re- 

 garded simply as useful ponies for beginners and for 

 riders who cannot play English ponies properly. 



Probably the chief reason which has brought 

 Eastern ponies into disrepute, is the reputation they 

 have acquired of being liable to fall on the slightest 

 provocation. As a rule they are light and weedy, 

 have inferior shoulders, and when they fall, they come 

 down all of a heap, with scarcely an effort to save 

 themselves. On the contrary, English ponies, like 

 Irish hunters, seem to have always a spare leg, re- 

 cover themselves, and get out of difficulties with 

 extraordinary cleverness. Men who have ridden 

 Eastern ponies during the last few years, have had 

 more than their proper share of bad falls. As the de- 

 mand for good polo ponies far exceeds the supply, 

 ponies from North and South America have largely 

 taken the place of Eastern animals, which is a move 

 in the right direction ; because, owing to their large 

 infusion of English blood, they more nearly approach 

 the home type than any other breed, except Australian 

 ponies, which have not yet come into the English 

 market in large numbers. The American ponies 

 we have seen, are sure-footed and can carry weight; 

 but with a few brilliant exceptions, they cannot gallop 

 as fast or stay as well as English ponies, especially 

 with a heavy weight or in deep ground. 



ENGLISH PONIES. 



The English polo pony is essentially a dwarf hunter 

 or dwarf steeplechaser ; and, consequently, he is 

 entirely different from the general utility pony or 



