140 LIGHT HORSES I BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



The second advantage which may be assigned to the pony 

 over heavier horses, is the smallness of his appetite, and this 

 should prove no small attraction in the eyes of would-be 

 equestrians, afflicted, alas ! as so many of them are, by ill-lined 

 purses. Whether the pony is naturally so small a feeder as 

 he usually is, is, however, questionable, as there can be little 

 room for doubting that the early treatment which the majority 

 of equine bantams experience has provided them with a facility 

 for thriving upon very little. All excess in eating and drink- 

 ing is due to the inordinate encouragement of a natural 

 appetite, and if this is rigorously checked it is marvellous in 

 how short a time the craving will disappear. Ponies, usually, 

 owing to the mere fact of their existence and their earliest 

 surroundings, are well acquainted with the art of going upon 

 short commons, and thriving on the same. This circumstance 

 in unquestionably due to the belief and it is a true one that 

 young stock that are well fed grow, and that those whose 

 dietary is limited do not. Consequently, from his earliest 

 infancy a pony finds himself compelled to try and get as fat 

 as possible upon an amount of food per diem which animals 

 more happily circumstanced could dispose of in half the time, 

 or less. It is hard work, too, for many of the little colts and 

 fillies to rub along during their most youthful days, as the 

 majority of their breeders very sensibly endeavour to arrange 

 so that their mares foal late, in order that the youngsters 

 should derive just as much nourishment, first from their dams, 

 and then from the grass, as will enable them to live and move 

 and make as little growth as possible. 



Doubtless, therefore, the natural appetite of a healthy pony 

 becomes reduced by habit, with the result that, when he 

 reaches his full stature, he flourishes upon, and is contented 

 with, a far smaller allowance of food than he would otherwise 

 require. This faculty for going upon short commons must 

 surely be regarded as an additional recommendation, which 

 should never be lost sight of by those who are hesitating be- 

 tween investing in a horse or pony for purposes of pleasure, and 

 who may not be blessed with ample means. 



