50 
Welsh Ponies and Cobs. 
large owner, whose experience has been fast bound by 
tradition, must be made to see the importance of breeding 
only the best. 
The Commons Act. 
Although the interests of pony breeders in past years may 
have been neglected, this cannot be said to be the case now. 
The State has given them the Commons Act, while the Board 
of Agriculture is desirous of assisting horse-breeding in every 
way. The Development Commissioners have voted grants for 
this purpose, and a Commission was appointed in 1912, 
specially to get at the needs of Mountain Breeds. Representa- 
tives from the New Forest, Exmoor, Dartmoor, and Wales sat 
in conclave, compared notes, issued recommendations, and to 
the best of their ability endeavoured to prescribe for their 
betterment. The Commission, in their Report, recommended 
financial aid only to such communities as had formed, or were 
willing tQ form, Pony Associations, and to make application for 
putting into force the provisions of the Commons Act. . 
This Act (8 Edw. 7 c. 44) in effect permits a ^ majority of 
Commoners, after application and instituted enquiry, to make 
Regulations as to the turning out of male animals on commonly 
owned lands. At the present time, except in some half dozen 
cases or so, where some such regulations are in force, the 
Mountain ponies still run wild in the same uncar ed-f oi lioi des 
as did their ancestors. 
Before the passing of this Act, judicious pony breeders were 
absolutely at the mercy of any one negligent, malicious, or 
obstinate commoner, with the result that ponies, young and old, 
male and female, of all sorts of sizes and ages, cart colts and 
pony colts, two-year olds, inbred sons and daughters, and roving 
jackasses, were allowed to roam over the unfenced hills and 
interminable commons, and so to become the sires and dams of 
scallywags of every variety. 
Under such circumstances it is surprising that the ponies 
bred on the hills have turned out as well as they have. 
Enclosure Acts in the middle of last century did little to 
remedy these grievances, and until the Commons Act was 
obtained no permanent improvement was possible. With 
regard to this Act, in the seven years’ campaign in its 
behalf I have never heard a single argument against it, or any 
1 Since writing these words, we have just been confronted with the sad 
announcement in the papers of the death of Lord Arthur Cecil, the esteemed 
Chairman of our Commission, and the able writer of its Report (in conjunction 
with Mr. T. F. Dale). We can only say in words sincere and sorrowful, that 
the Pony question has lost its most able and interested exponent, and that all 
Pony lovers, and many others, who enjoyed the privilege of his friendship, 
advice, and experience, are the poorer for the loss of an invaluable friend. 
