PONIES 95 



the moor like those of the original stock. Bobby was bred by 

 Mr. Ramsay, of Barnton, his sire being Robin, a son of Dr. 

 Syntax, and a mare by Cotton, whose dam was by Borack. 

 The method of rearing the young animals, according to 

 "The Druid," was as follows: "Three parts of the year 

 these mares live on the mountain land, while the farm is 

 making beef and mutton below. . . . Their foals are care- 

 fully wintered in paddocks with the yearlings, and if the 

 weather is very severe the two-year-olds have hay as well. 

 The paddocks are principally four acres in extent ; little 

 open sheds, neatly thatched, nestle in cunning nooks, to 

 shelter the young stock, and when its whole array is mar- 

 shalled on to the lowlands the stud is about 120 strong." 



In these days of breeding extensively for polo it is well to 

 know methods which have been proved to be successful. 



Sir Thomas Acland maintained his original breed un- 

 crossed, but Mr. Frederick Knight went in for improved 

 blood, and commenced with two sires and three mares, 

 concerning the importation of which from Dongala (the 

 kingdom of King Solomon's visitor, the Queen of Sheba) 

 " The Druid " relates a most interesting anecdote. The 

 Dongala stallions were followed by Pandarus, a 15-hand son 

 of Whalebone, and he in turn was succeeded by Canopus, 

 a grandson of Velocipede, but again it was found the better- 

 bred animals could not stand the rough climate in winter. 

 "While the experiment was in progress the colts were 

 wintered on limed land, which enabled them to bear up 

 pretty well against the climate. When, however, the farms 

 were let by the present Mr. Knight, they had to go back en 

 masse to the naked moor, and then it was found that even if 

 the mares with the first cross could put up with the fare 

 and climate, they grew far too thin to give any milk, while 

 those of the old stock stood it well with their foals." 



While 12.2 hands is about the outside height at which the 

 Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies can live all the year round on 

 their own hills, they soon increase in height on lower ground 

 with more generous treatment in winter ; and yet, small as 

 they are, it is perfectly marvellous what weight they can 

 carry for extreme distances, and many hours at a stretch. 



