NORTH AMERICANS. 205 



I look upon Argentines as really good useful 

 animals in second class company, especially for 

 a beginner ; but with the exception of Langosta 

 and Bismarck, I have not found them up to Champion 

 Cup form. Their chief drawback, particularly for 

 a weak rider, is that they take a great deal of 

 driving. Fig. 86 is a good type of an Argentine pony. 



NORTH AMERICANS. 



After English and Australian ponies. North 

 Americans are probably the best. Australians 

 are of nearly pure English blood, and are reared 

 in a splendid horse-breeding country. Consequently, 

 there is probably little or no difference between them 

 and our home stock. The average North American 

 pony seems to have more pace than the Argentine, 

 but not so much stamina as the English pony. Only 

 the very best of them are up to first-class form. 

 Although a large number of them has been imported 

 during the last two or three years, very few have 

 gained a high reputation. 



Mr. Mackey has brought over several of which I 

 think the best are the Californian Rex (Fig. 47), Cap, 

 Tom and Brady ; Mr. Mackey has played all these 

 ponies continually in first-class matches and they seem, 

 with their owner up, to be able to compete with the 

 best of English ponies. Mr. Mackey used to own some 

 very good English ponies, but he has given them up, 

 as he finds the Americans easier to ride. Mr. Foxhall 

 Keene has a fine stud of American ponies, of which 

 the best are probably Texina (Fig. 102) and Chief 

 (Fig. 103). Express (Fig. 104) is also good. 



