268 POLO PONY BREEDING. [Chap. XL 



Hackney-bred pony or cob. Their action is remark- 

 able for its freedom and dash. The second and third 

 I named usually bend their knees, but at the same time 

 throw out their legs with a swinging motion straight 

 from the shoulder, distinct from the higher and rounder 

 action of the Hackney. The hock movement is good, 

 though in some instances they go a trifle too wide in 

 their fast paces, and the hindquarter is often shorter 

 than it should be. The little mountain ponies very 

 much follow their larger cousins in action, but many 

 breeders do not like too much bend of the knee, 

 preferring rather a kind of darting movement, like a 

 thorough-bred horse or an Arab. I must say I like to 

 see every class of horse bend the knee in the trot, and 

 this may be easily distinguished in the riding horse or 

 pony, from the more extravagant high movement so 

 valuable for those suitable for harness. The indomit- 

 able pluck, endurance, and good temper of the Welsh 

 pony, together with his substance and dash, will be 

 found an invaluable cross for the thorough-bred and 

 Eastern-bred ponies. 



" As one of the great difficulties in breeding polo 

 ponies is to keep the height within limit, pure, small 

 pony blood, especially as foundation stock, becomes the 

 more valuable, so that the Dartmoor, Exmoor, New 

 Forest, Church Stretton Hills, and Highland-bred 

 ponies must not be overlooked, and the worth of these 

 breeds cannot be well over-estimated in laying the 

 foundation for the breed of the future." 



From the above I understand Mr. Hill's opinion to 

 be that a cross of thorough-bred or Eastern blood with 

 one of our pure English breeds of ponies is what is 

 required. But I very much doubt the possibility of 



