INDIAN COUNTRY-BREDS 



213 



Among the distinctive breeds in India we find the 

 Kathiawar ponies, which are light-weight, well-bred 

 animals, with very little bone. They are usually dun 

 in colour, with a dark stripe down the back. The 

 Deccan ponies are smart, hardy little animals, but very 

 small, being seldom more than 13 hands high. The 

 Cutch ponies were the best of the indigenous breeds ; 



Fig. 91. — Indian Country-bred pony "Namouna." 



but their original type has been almost entirely altered 

 by the introduction of a large number of Arab and 

 English sires into the country. They are very strong, 

 tough animals, with plenty of weight-carrying power 

 and endurance. The best country-bred racing ponies 

 have been bred in the Meerut district, and have had a 

 large dash of English thoroughbred blood. 



As a rule country-breds are narrow and very light of 

 bone, and would not be of much use in England, as 



