200 ON THE REARING 



in the horse business of ever-increasing 

 value, judicious feeding of the foal will be 

 of the utmost importance, since, while bone 

 and muscular development are essential, the 

 inevitable result of too much good keep 

 will be increase of size ; and the standard 

 already is a difficult one to attain. Plenty 

 of exercise, preferably on broken ground to 

 make him clever, and not too much stimu- 

 lating food, will probably be the best treat- 

 ment. When a breed of the required stamp 

 (and the typical polo pony is one of the 

 sweetest and most delightful creatures in 

 existence) is fully established, he will, 

 nevertheless, continue to be a most expen- 

 sive animal to buy, from the fact that he 

 will have to be kept so long before he is fit 

 for his work. This cannot be till he is at 

 least five or six years old. Before that age 

 he will not be able to stand the strain of 

 starting for sudden and sharp bursts of speed 

 under weight, or the quick turnings and 



