THE HORSE AND HIS RtDER. 19 



roads and dreary wilds of that mountainous country, 

 they are in great demand there. They exist almost 

 in a state of nature. The late Captain Colgrave, 

 governor of the prison, had a great desire to possess 

 one of them somewhat superior in figure to his fel- 

 lows ; and having several men to assist him, they 

 separated it from the herd. They drove it on some 

 rocks by the side of a tor (an upright pointed hill). 

 A man followed on horseback, while the captain 

 stood below watching the chase. The little animal, 

 being driven into a corner, leaped completely over the 

 man and horse, and escaped. 



The sheltie, or pony of the Shetland isles, is a 

 very diminutive animal, sometimes not more than 

 thirty inches high, and rarely exceeding thirty-eight. 

 He is often exceedingly beautiful, with a small head, 

 good tempered countenance, a short neck, fine to- 

 wards the throttle, shoulders low and thick in so 

 little a creature far from being a blemish back short, 

 quarters expanded and powerful, legs flat and fine, 

 and pretty round feet. These ponies possess immense 

 strength for their size ; will fatten upon almost any 

 thing, and are perfectly docile. Mr. Youatt says 

 that one of them, three feet in height, carried a man 

 of twelve stone forty miles in one day. 



Pony hunting used to be one of the favourite 



