76 THE HORSE 



ground, but of course do not, as a rule, possess the turn of 

 speed like the thoroughbred or the hackney. Ponies 

 are very handy animals, and can be kept where it would 

 be impossible to keep a large horse. They are easily 

 looked after, not costly to keep, and always a source of 

 pleasure to their owners. The writer is particularly fond 

 of them, and this, irrespective of age, sex, or breed. The 

 colours to be preferred are bay, brown, chestnut, and grey, 

 but like a good horse, a good pony may be any colour. 

 If an unbroken pony is purchased care must be taken to 

 have it properly broken, otherwise it will acquire all sorts 

 of objectionable habits, such as shying at trifling objects 

 on the road, kicking, etc. It is much more ready to adopt 

 vice than virtue, and whilst the former is so easily acquired 

 it is less easily eradicated. Anything up to 14-3 hands 

 may be classified as a pony. Prices range from £10 or 

 £12 up to several hundreds of guineas, according to 

 quality, but from £iS to £25 may be accepted as a fair 

 average for the ordinary type of pon}^ 



