442 UNGULATA. 



shoulders low and thick — in so little a creature far from being a blemish 

 — back short, quarters expanded and powerful, legs flat and fine, and 

 pretty, round feet. These ponies possess immense strength for their 

 size, will fatten upon almost anything, and are perfectly docile. One of 

 them, nine hands (or three feet) in height, carried a man of twelve stone 

 the distance of forty miles in one day. 



A gentleman was, not long ago, presented with one of these elegant 

 little animals. He was several miles from home, and puzzled how to 

 convey his newly-acquired property. The Shetlander was scarcely 

 more than seven hands high, and as docile as he was beautiful. " Can 

 we not carry him in your chaise? " said his friend. The strange experi- 

 ment was tried. The sheltie was placed in the bottom of the gig, and 

 covered up as well as could be managed with the apron ; a few bits of 

 bread kept him quiet ; and thus he was safely conveyed away, and 

 exhibited the curious spectacle of a horse riding in a gig. 



The Welsh Pony is one of the most beautiful little animals that can 

 be imagined. He has a small head, high withers, deep yet round barrel, 

 short joints, flat legs, and good round feet. He will live on any fare, and 

 will never tire. About a century and a half ago, pony-hunting was a 

 favorite amusement of the Welsh farmer. The sportsmen ran them 

 down with greyhounds, and then caught them with a lasso. 



The Exmoor Ponies, although generally ugly enough, are hardy and 

 useful. A well-known English sportsman said that he rode one of them 

 half-a-dozen miles, and never felt such power and action in so small a com- 

 pass before. To show his accomplishments, he was turned over a gate at 

 least eight inches higher than his back ; and his owner, who rides four- 

 teen stone, traveled on him from Bristol to South Molton, eighty-six 

 miles, beating the coach which runs the same road. 



Among the ponies we may class the Iceland, Lapland, and Finland 

 horses, none of which exceed twelve hands in height. In Iceland thou- 

 sands run wild in the mountains, and never enter a stable ; but instinct 

 or habit has taught them to scrape away the snow, or break the ice, in 

 search of their scanty food. A few are usually kept in the stable ; but 

 when the peasant wants more he catches as many as he needs, and shoes 

 them himself, and that sometimes with a sheep's horn. The breed of 

 horses found in the Faroe Islands resembles in most of its points 

 the horses of Iceland. It is, however, rather higher, owing to an 

 infusion of Danish blood. . 



