A Plea for the Pony 177 



more able confrere the cob, is destined to receive 

 tardy recognition for what he is — the ablest, most 

 enduring, and most useful little beast we find 

 wrapped in horsehide. The term " cob," by the way, 

 has in America, since its adoption as a wprd in 

 general use, been greatly misconstrued, and is ap- 

 plied erroneously to animals from 15.2 to 16 hands. 

 The phrase has more to do with shape than size, it is 

 true, but the true "cob" never exceeds 15 hands, 

 and is generally between that height and a hand 

 lower, although " cobby-built " ponies and horses 

 are found of all heights. We have never differ- 

 entiated between the types in our show rings, and 

 the entries in a pony class may be all cobs, or the 

 reverse. The cob is stout and blockily built, thick 

 through, and a " big little one," as the dealers say, 

 not unusually tending rather to coarseness, and dis- 

 playing in his general make-up and finish a lack of 

 good breeding. Many cobs, however, are full of 

 quality and finely finished at every point, and 

 these, if possessed of pace and action, bring very 

 large figures. 



