PONIES 231 



greater part of which is unclaimed and waste land. As 

 with the other breeds of ponies, the early origin is not 

 known, but certain it is that they have been bred in a 

 more or less wild state for many generations. It is stated 

 that there are about 2,500 of these ponies. Like the other 

 breeds of British ponies, the New Forest has been much 

 improved in recent years. The breed owes much of its 

 present perfection to Lord Arthur Cecil, who it is stated 

 turns out with his mares 30 to 40 good stallions each year. 

 Many of these stallions come from the Island of Rum, 

 purchased by Lord Arthur in 1888. No doubt much of 

 the' recent improvement has been due to Arabian and 

 Thoroughbred blood. 



The Polo Pony Society Stud Book gives the average 

 height as 12 to 13 hands. Most of the Rum ponies are 

 black, although some are bay or brown. These New 

 Forest ponies are generally more spirited than most of 

 the other British ponies. They have good shoulders, 

 strong backs and excellent quarters, although sometimes 

 criticized for being low at the withers and possessing a 

 droopy r.ump and cow-hocked. Like all ponies that have 

 been developed on scant nutrition, they improve under 

 good management. 



A few years ago the New Forest Pony Association was 

 organized to look after the interest of the breed in Eng- 

 land. This breed has no organization in America. 



The Dartmoor pony. — This breed of ponies had its 

 origin in Dartmoor, an extensive tract of land in Corn- 

 wall, embracing about 325 square miles. Here ponies 

 have been bred in a half-wild state for many generations, 

 although in recent years they have been much improved 

 by crossing with Arabian and Thoroughbred stallions. 

 Dartmoor ponies are comparatively few in England and 

 there are practically none in America. 



The Dartmoor pony is described as never exceeding 13 

 hands in height. The official description states that if 

 the height exceeds 14 hands it suggests cross-breeding. 



