WILD PONIES OF THE PLAINS 



only saw the stallion and mare with the re- 

 mainder of the band up the canon a mile or 

 more in the distance and running at full speed. 

 All the following spring and summer the ponies 

 were frequently seen grazing upon the distant 

 hills, but no one was known to approach nearer 

 to them than a mile or so. During the cold 

 winter months that followed food for the horses 

 was very scarce. The ravines and canons 

 where the longest and choicest grass is to be 

 found were covered with heavy snows. The 

 wild ponies were driven by the severe northwest 

 storms to the canons for shelter. There, with 

 their backs turned to the storm, they would 

 stand for hours endeavoring to keep warm and 

 for mutual protection. Many persons and very 

 many animals have lost their lives in these ter- 

 rific storms of the plains, which come almost 

 without warning and cease as suddenly. Plains 

 animals through instinct seek the most available 

 shelter prior to a storm. Many a traveller 

 along four-footed trails has saved his life by 

 taking timely warning from animal instinct. 



As the winter advanced, the ponies grew thin 

 and looked rough and shaggy, save the black 

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