Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



83 



into a life of ^ood shelter, good food and grooming ; and if they 

 are meant for racing later on, they are never allowed to leave the 

 stable door unless hooded and sheeted from nose to tail, like any 

 English thorough-bred. 



The principal features, (I was going to say "points") of Chinese 

 ponies are, (with a few exceptions,) heavy narrow heads, pig eyes, 

 thick in the neck, and very short in the rein, straight shoulders, 

 fair legs and feet, good ribs, drooping, badly furnished quarters : 

 and the whole " bag of tricks " topped up with a tail set on half 

 way down to their hocks. They are also hard pullers, 

 and are bad tempered in the stable ; the latter vice, being no 

 doubt increased and encouraged by the Chinese mafoos (horse- 

 boys), who I think, taking them as a lot, are without exception 

 the worst, and most cowardly set of grooms in the world. 



I am afraid I have not given so very encouraging a description of 

 Chinese ponies ; but far be it from my thoughts to " crab " these 

 " goose-rumped " animals, on the backs of which I have enjoyed 

 many a srood ride : and for all their misshape, the " records" in the 

 table below, will show that some of them, when trained, can cover 

 the ground at a very fair pace. 



