2o6 BREEDS OF POLO PONIES. [Chap. VIII. 



Although few American ponies are up to tip-top 

 form, they are really useful, hardy, handy animals, 

 especially those which have been employed after cows, 

 as it is almost impossible to knock them off their 

 legs. 



Mr. Thorn used to get all his ponies from Texas, 

 and is invariably well mounted. He tells me that 



•t Fig. 87. — Texan pony "Ronald." 



many of the ponies there are very well bred, owing 

 to the presence of a large number of thorough-bred 

 sires. He finds that the best ponies are three- 

 quarter pure blood (by a thorough-bred out of a 

 dam by a thorough-bred), as in Ireland, or by a 

 thorough-bred out of a good broncho. In Texas, 

 there is a good deal of racing over short distances, 

 and we accordingly find many of these ponies to be 



