HORSES AND MULES 



American conditions the Shetland as- 

 sumes a larger size and smoother coat 

 and this type is now preferred. They 

 have sometimes been crossed with the 

 Welsh pony and Hackney with good 

 results. The diminutive size of the 

 Shetland forbids his use for anything 

 else than a children's pet. 



In England other breeds of ponies 

 have been produced such as the Welsh, 

 Celtic (considered by Ewart a distinct 

 species), Exmoor, Connemara, Hebri- 

 dean, Dartmoor and New Forest. The 

 Dartmoor is about 13 hands high and the 

 foundation stock was apparently Exmoor. 



northwest cayuses. The foundation stock 

 of mustangs came over from 1519 

 on. The modern representative is a 

 wiry, ugly-shaped, parti-colored horse of 

 wonderful endurance and unreliable 

 temper. They may be ridden or driven 

 50 to 125 miles a day. They are used 

 for driving, cow ponies or pack animals. 

 In addition to their endurance they are 

 great rustlers and are able to take care 

 of themselves under heavy work with- 

 out any feed except what they pick up 

 on the range. From their origin it is 

 evident they are based on the Barb 

 horse. They are 12 to 14 hands high and 



Fig. 207 — PRIZE COACH STALLION. PALADIN 



The latter is bay or brown, with strong 

 legs, and 12.2 hands high. Good polo 

 ponies can be obtained by crossing them 

 with Thoroughbred sires. The New 

 Forest pony from southern England is 

 somewhat larger than the Exmoor, and is 

 sturdy and well formed. About 5,000 

 Shetland ponies have been registered 

 in the United States and of these about 

 4,200 are now living. This breed has been 

 referred to in history since the year 

 1700. (For secretary, see appendix.) 



The ponies of our western states are 

 of Spanish origin. In Mexico and our 

 Southwest they are called mustangs, in 

 many localities, Indian ponies; in the 

 central Rockies, broncos; and in the 



weigh from 600 to 1,000 pounds. Many 

 of the cow ponies have been trained in 

 all the saddle gaits and their intelligence 

 is quite remarkable. The bronco has 

 been the Indian's best friend and an 

 indispensable factor in the conquest of 

 arid America. 



Polo ponies are obtained directly from 

 the ranks of the broncos or by crossing 

 Thoroughbred sires on bronco, Welsh or 

 Exmoor pony mares. The bronco has 

 much more of promise in him than any 

 of the imported ponies. The use of 

 Thoroughbred sires greatly improves the 

 form and disposition of the bronco 

 without lowering his endurance and 

 alertness, 



