Bcport on the Exhibition of Live-Stoch at Taunton. 605 
next class, the only remarkable feature being that they all came 
from the south-western district, four of them from the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of Taunton. In the three next classes for 
hunter-mares of two, three, and four-years-old, there was next to 
no competition, as there were only ten entries in all, the first 
prizes being secured in each case by animals sent from a long 
distance. " Sunbeam," the 4-year-old winner, was the best of 
the whole bunch, and the Judges at Taunton only confirmed a 
verdict which had already been given in her favour at Alexandra 
Park last June. The 4-year-old hunter-geldings were so bad 
that the Judges only gave one prize, and this was to " Kelly," 
who will never do Mr. Battams such good service as " Palmer- 
ston," whose own brother was placed third in the 5-year-old 
hunter (mare or gelding) class. This was also a moderate class, 
and Major Barlow with "King Charming" turned the tables on 
"Jester," who was second only at Taunton, after beating the 
Suffolk horse at Alexandra Park. " Jester," though somewhat 
coarse about the head, and looking more like a charger than a 
hunter, has had a fair share of success this season ; but he is not 
an every-day sort of horse, and " going the circuit " seems to have 
told upon him. Whether he could obtain a certificate of sound- 
ness is a point upon which I do not feel that it is my province to 
dwell. A Horse-Show in which Mr. Armstrong did not exhibit 
" Banker " or " Cashier," would be like ' Hamlet ' with the part 
of the Prince left out. Not that either of these horses is such a 
paragon of excellence ; but they have got up a name for them- 
selves, and everybody seems bound to admire them, and point 
to them as patterns of what a weight-carrying hunter should be. 
It would be unfair to say that their capabilities have been tested 
only in the ring ; but there can be little doubt that " Banker," 
who won, and very deservedly won, the first prize in his class 
at Taunton, has secured more prizes through his perfect action 
than anything else. A local man won the first prize in the 
12 stone hackney class ; and Mr. Gorvett's " Highland Mary " 
was the best of a very moderate lot. This is about all that need 
be said of this and the next class, for hackneys up to not less 
than 14 stone, there being only five entries in the latter. It is. 
surprising, upon first thoughts, that here, in the neighbourhood 
of Exmoor, there should have been so poor a show of ponies ; 
but it appears that many of those who formerly bred those hardy 
and handy little animals have either reduced their droves, or 
given up the ponies in favour of sheep. Mr. Knight, who used to 
breed such large numbers, lost a great number during the ter- 
rible winter of 1860-61; and if he was so unfortunate, it may be 
inferred that the " little men," with less means of procuring 
them food and shelter, fared still worse. It would not be going 
beyond the mark to assert that their numbers have diminished 
