BREEDING PONIES. 113 



sent a grey Arab stallion, which was kept 

 at New Park, and wonderfully improved 

 the breed in this district, until the temptation 

 to sell the most promising young stock as 

 foals and yearlings again depleted the Porest 

 of its best ponies. 



The deterioration at length became so 

 marked that some fifteen years ago a small 

 association was formed by the Verderers and 

 others interested in the matter, and a fresh 

 start was made. Her Majesty the Queen 

 graciously lent two Arabs of high caste, 

 Yirassan and Abeyan, the latter the gift of 

 the Imaun of Muscat ; and besides these, 

 two stallions were purchased from the famous 

 pony stud of Lords Arthur and Lionel Cecil 

 to run in the Porest, The result is already 

 apparent in a considerable improvement 

 in the young stock. I rode, as a boy, 

 for several years a thirteen-two pony by 

 an Arab out of a Porest mare, a fast 

 and clever animal, and though I have 



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