258 REMARKS ON VARIOUS BREEDS OF HORSES. 



The Clydesdale is a distinct breed of heavy cart-horse 

 that has been long established in Scotland. He is, as we 

 may see from the fine specimens shown m Figs. 353, 354, 

 355 and 356, a remarkably handsome, strong and active 

 animal. Clydesdale breeders, as a rule, make a great point 

 in obtaining oblique shoulders and sloping pasterns, and seek 

 for ability to walk fast and trot well, with as much strength 

 as possible. The breed has been crossed a good deal with 

 the Shire. Scotch breeders will no doubt keep the Shire 

 type in their mmds ; for weight means money in the cart- 

 horse market. 



The Shetland Pony (Figs. 234 and 357) is an 

 extremely hardy, handsome, and strong pony of from 10 to 

 1 1 hands high. 



The West Highland Pony (Fig. 358) is another 

 indigenous Scotch pony of great hardiness and strength. 



The Welsh Pony varies greatly in height and confor- 

 mation. Many of them have a good dash of hackney blood, 

 and make very useful trappers. An immense number of 

 these animals may be found in tradesmen's carts of the light 

 sort throughout England. 



» 

 Australasian Horses. — The special good points of 



Australian, Tasmanian, and New Zealand horses, from a 



saddle point of view, are their excellent fiat shoulders, light 



necks, well-shaped legs, and sound feet. Their loins, barrel, 



and croup are not, as a rule, as good as those of English 



horses ; but they are able .to stand more work. Animals 



that are brought up on extensive ** runs *' till they are, say, 



four years old, develop better shoulders and sounder legs 



and feet than those which are *' taken up '' early ; although, 



other conditions being equal, they may, perhaps, not be as 



neatly ** topped.'' Their^light fore hands and good shoulders 



make the Australasian horses clever jumpers The Colonial 



