AMERICAN TROTTERS, 261 



Australia and India; but among inferior company. His 

 shortness of leg, as compared to his length of body, precludes 

 the possibility of his being gifted with a fine turn of speed. 

 Though no race-horse, he is perfectly shaped as a fast hunter. 

 He has a short back, long *' rein,*' and particularly strong, 

 well-formed legs. His good shoulders and light head and 

 neck are valuable jumping and galloping "points." His 

 best points of speed are, no doubt, his straight hocks and 

 powerful gaskins. 



The horse shown in Fig 271 belongs to a common type 

 of underbred Australian horse, which makes a good remount 

 and useful slave. As a rule, these horses are well fitted for 

 saddle ; for their fore hand is comparatively light and their 

 legs good. 



The Norwegian Pony is a distinct breed that has 

 been long distinguished by its hardiness, activity, and 

 general usefulness. A good representative of these small 

 horses, and fast trotter, is given in Fig. 359. A half-bred 

 Swedish hunter is shown in Fig. 360. 



The Iceland Pony (Fig. 307) is a diminutive, good- 

 looking breed that manages to exist under most severe 

 conditions of privation and cold. 



American Ponies. — Figs. 238 and 362 show us good 

 types of American polo ponies. 



American Trotters. — According to Mr. Francis A. 

 Foster, of Boston, who very kindly writes to me on the sub- 

 ject, the trotter (Figs. 363, 364, 368, and 374), compared to 

 the thoroughbred, has a large head ; short and thick neck ; 

 deep and short body in comparison to his height; broad 

 chest ; low withers ; thick shoulders ; and is broad, as viewed 

 from behind. In fact, he has more bone and muscle all round 

 than the race-horse of English blood. His chief characteristic, 

 as regards conformation, is the shortness and depth of his 



