THE DARTMOOR PONY, 2.7 



Mr. Charles H. Basset, late Master of the Devon and 

 Somerset Staghoimds, writing to Mr. Edward Mucklow, Junr , 

 thinks that there is no breed of pony like the pure Exmoor, 

 of which Sir Thomas Acland and Mr. William Westacott, of 

 Harkridge, are the principal breeders. Mr. Basset says that 

 '' these ponies are beautifully shouldered, deep girthed, and 

 with lovely heads ; but with the drooping quarters peculiar to 

 the breed, and which, I have been told, are generally seen on 

 all horses and ponies that are bred and reared on hilly and 

 mountainous land. Anyhow, both the ponies and sheep of 

 Exmoor have the same sloping hind-quarters They are 

 about 10 or 11 hands high, and the colour brown with mealy 

 noses I am told that Sir Thomas Acland will not keep 

 any other colour, and that it is a sign of a stain in some cross 

 when any other colour but brown appears '' Writing to me 

 about Exmoor ponies, Mr. Mucklow says that '*they are the 

 foundation of the best polo ponies, mated with a thorough- 

 bred horse, not too big. Ponies bred this way are extra- 

 ordinary jumpers, and lovely hacks." I may here repeat 

 Mr. E. D. Miller's well-proved rule that the English polo 

 pony of the present day, in order to have sufficient speed, 

 must be by a thoroughbred out of a mare by a thoroughbred. 

 Exmoor ponies have been a good deal crossed in breeding, 

 with the 6bject of increasing their height, which has been 

 obtained with, naturaUy, some loss of hardihood. Royal Oak 

 (Fig. 348) and Gladys (Fig. 349) are handsome specimens 

 of the breed. 



The New Forest Pony (Figs. 351 and 352) is an 

 old English breed, to the improvement of which Lord 

 Arthur Cecil has devoted much attention. They are 

 very hardy, clever little horses, and are good either to 

 ride or drive. They, like the Exmoors, have been much 

 crossed. 



The Dartmoor Pony is also an old English breed, and 

 somewhat resembles the Exmoor. 



