

CLASSES AND BREEDS OF BRITISH HORSES. 521 



These little horses are thickly covered with long hair, and 

 until caught for use are left nearly wild. They are resolute 

 and cunning, ascending the rocky eminences when pursued, 

 leaping from blocks of rock, or even jumping over their pur- 

 suers when hemmed in. The New Forest of Hampshire, 

 which William the Conquerer converted into a hunting 

 ground, by driving away the wretched inhabitants, and burn- 

 ing all the towns, villages, and churches within a compass of 

 many miles, long produced a race of ponies, of which the re- 

 mains yet exist. They are ugly, large-headed, and short- 

 necked, but hardy, sure-footed, and capable of bearing care- 

 less usage. 



In like manner, over all the ancient wastes and forests of 

 England, formerly covering the larger part of the surface of 

 the country, were reared varieties of horses, the size and 

 strength of which bore a relation to the quality and abun- 

 dance of the natural herbage. Sometimes they were of the 

 pony size, falling short of twelve hands high ; sometimes they 

 reached fourteen hands, and in rarer cases fifteen. They 

 were of coarse form, with short hairy limbs, and were capable 

 of much drudgery, but were destitute of elegance, and un- 

 suited for speed. From this class were derived the older 

 Pack-horses, which were used throughout the country before 

 roads were formed, and which, until late in the last century, 

 were the most numerous class of horses employed for draught 

 or riding. They were good drudges, hardy and sure-footed, 

 but wanted action and lightness for the saddle; while, for the 

 purposes of labour, they were inferior to the larger horses 

 now employed. Numbers of this very ordinary kind of horses 

 are yet to be seen in Cornwall and other hilly parts of Eng- 

 land. In the high parts of Devonshire they are still employed 

 in carrying loads. They are numerous likewise in Ireland, 

 and in parts of Scotland ; and wherever they exist, exhibit 

 that form which the greater part of the horses of these 

 Islands possessed, until mingled in blood with the finer races 

 of Barbary and the East. 



