172 THE HORSE, ASS, AND MULE 



iii- to I3|- hands high, with 12 to 13 the standard, and they 

 are generally bay or brown, with tan muzzle and " a little white 

 under the eyes." Other colors prevail, however. There is a 

 New Forest Pony Association, which promotes the breed. 



The Highland pony is native to certain islands off the west 

 coast of Scotland. Mr. W. Mackenzie ^ of the Isle of Mull sepa- 

 rates the Highland into three groups, as follows : First, those 

 of Barra and the small islands, standing 12I to I3|- hands, some- 

 what plain and large of head, inclined to be straight of shoulder, 

 and usually black, bay, or brown, with occasional duns and grays. 

 These are very hardy ponies, suited to poor feeding and exposure. 

 Second, a high-class riding pony of the West Highlands and 

 Islands, standing 14 to I4|- hands high, black, brown, dun, and 

 gray in color, and showing a " very strong cross of Arab blood." 

 These ponies have beautiful heads and shoulders, and on poor 

 keep are especially suited to heavy-saddle work. This line of 

 Highland ponies has largely run out. The third class is often 

 called the Garron pony, and is native more especially to the 

 Central Highlands rather than the West, and may attain a height 

 of 15 hands. "It is thought they were bred from the original 

 small pony crossed with the larger horses brought into the High- 

 lands with troops during the unsettled time, and now a very 

 typical Garron can be produced by crossing a small Clydesdale 

 horse with the West Highland pony mare." This is more of a 

 small horse and is better adapted to mountain farm work than to 

 the saddle. 



The Connemara pony has its native home in Connemara, an 

 isolated locality on the extreme west side of Ireland. These 

 ponies stand about 14 hands high, are usually bay, chestnut, or 

 gray in color, and have a somewhat long and deep body, oblique 

 shoulders, and freedom of movement. The coat of hair is remark- 

 able for its length and thickness. A strong constitution, pleasant 

 disposition, and power of endurance are noteworthy characteristics. 

 The Connemara has been used in Ireland and England to some 

 extent in polo playing, to which sport it seems well adapted. It 

 is said a cross of Hackney pony stallions on Connemara mares 

 makes a very smart, trappy, fast-moving harness pony. 



1 Ponies and All about Them (191 1), p. 219. 

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