222 The Book of the Horse. 



For many years an absurd system of taxation, or rather of exemption, existed which gave 

 a premium for the employment of ponies under 13 hands high; but all those exemptions having 

 been first abolished, and then the tax itself sacrificed to conciliate farmers and country gentlemen, 

 there is no advantage in looking out for ponies under 13 hands high. Thirteen hands and a 

 half is an excellent height for all family purposes. 



A considerable economy will thus be effected in first price, in keep, and in wear and tear ; 

 for ponies last longer at work than most full-sized horses, and can travel at least as far, generally 

 farther, and quite as fast as any reasonable person des'res. Indeed, it is scarcely possible to 

 tire out a pair of good mountain or moor-bred ponies. 



These observations particularly apply to ponies of average step, action, and quality. Anything 

 of extraordinary merit will always fetch a fancy price. A pony under 1 1 hands high, which 

 was afterwards presented to the late ex-Emperor of the French for the Prince Imperial, was 

 sold at auction for sixty-five guineas ; and a hundred pounds was refused for an extraordinary 

 leaping pony of the same size. Since polo came into fashion the latter has become an ordinary 

 price where pace is found along with beauty. 



The modern school of coach-builders, with their light carriages and high wheels, under the 

 four-hundredweight low licence duty, have done a great deal to encourage the employment 

 of ponies for pleasure purposes, 



BREAKING PONIES TO RIDE OR DRIVE. 



When a pony has to be broken to ride and is not strong enough to carry a man, and a 

 competent good-tempered boy is not to be found in the parish, the best plan is to break it to 

 harness ; indeed, it is doubtful whether all horses for useful purposes should not be broken to double 

 harness before they are ridden. The usual brake and brake-horse will be too tall and ponderous 

 for the purpose. After the preliminary lessons in horse education, when the pony has lost all 

 fear of man, sights, and sounds, and has walked about in harness, and turns to right and left, 

 as the driver, following on foot, pulls either rein run through the ferrets of the dumb jockey, get a 

 strong two-wheeled carriage of suitable size, fasten a splinter-bar to it by wxy of outrigger — 

 you may see the arrangement during London winters, when, after a heavy snow-storm, four- 

 wheeled one-horse cabs are turned into pairs — attach a steady, perfectly-broken old pony to 

 the outrigger, if it is a riding pony, with a boy riding postillion, and put the unbroken pony 

 into the shafts. With the harness and kicking-straps you have the young one under p' r ect 

 control ; with patience and daily lessons a good driver will not only teach him all his duty, but 

 prepare him for the saddle. Boys are so cruel and thoughtless, that they can rarely be trusted 

 with the task of teaching a colt without the supervision of some older hand. 



RIDING PONIES. 

 "Of all the sights of London in the month of June there arc few prettier than Rotten Row 

 at that hour in the morning when grave judges, merchants of mighty name in the City, and 

 the hard-worked of Her Majesty's Cabinet and Her Majesty's Opposition begin to ride away 

 to their daily, never-ending duties ; while the Park is alive with little mobs of boys and girls 

 galloping, trotting, and walking as little as possible, with papa, mamma, or sister Anne, or 

 mostly with some stout and faithful Ruggles, panting and toiling after his precious charges 

 How bright they look, how happy with innocent excitement glowing on their ro.sy faces ! No 

 thought of heavy acceptances or of doubtful parlirmentary contests, or of ungrateful Ministers 



