178 Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



In another chapter the writer has cast various 

 aspersions upon the character of the average pony 

 and his sins of omission and commission. This he 

 by no means quaHfies here, but would say that there 

 are ponies and ponies, and that the properly trained, 

 well-shaped little animal is worthy, able, and to be 

 desired — the half -broken, low -headed, vulgar little 

 beast so often met with, being the one especially ful- 

 minated against. 



Almost any one can afford a pony, and accommo- 

 dations that will answer for a goat or a cow will 

 perfectly suit him. His first cost, and that of his 

 equipage, is very small, and his endurance and 

 ability is fully up to that of the average horse, both 

 in the amount of weight in proportion to his ovv^n 

 bulk which he can handle, and in the miles he can 

 cover, the pace he can travel. Not one pony in 

 a thousand gets work enough, and they thrive on 

 a fare that would put a horse out of business in 

 short order. A fourteen-hand pony is as useful in 

 every way as a horse, whether under the saddle or 

 in harness; while those of lesser height might well 



