The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-05-25
SALT MARSH PONIES.

1t is known to comparatively few, especially OF
the younger people of this part of the State, that
there is section of the country in North Carolina
where Ponies are reared The passengers IN their
voyage from Newbern to Beaufort saw many OF
these ponies feeding in their pastures on the salt
marshes of the mainland, and on the marshes OF the
sand bar which stretches along coast, separa-
ting the waters of the sounds from those OF the
ocean. Many of these marshes afford very eXten-
sive pasturagc of the best kind for cattle, winter
and summer and those of them best adapted to
the purpose used for pony pastures, and on
them the inhabitants of that part OF the State raise
what they call the Marsh Grass or "Bank Pony
"a species of small horse native to the soil for
we were told they had been reared there since the
time the memory of man runneth not to the con-
trarv and tradition says that Sir Walter Ralelghs
men found them there, and that great man import
ed the Stock to England, whether a curiosity or
for crossing with the English Stocks, We are not
informed.
The pure blooded marsh pony is small, though
considerably above the average size OF those OF
the Shetland variety, sometimes seen IN this coun-
trv They differ in color and vary in size. In
winter their hair is long and shaggy; but in sum
mer. short and sleek They tough, hardy and
durable far beyond the fine bloods of the country,
generally and some of the most perfect models OF
the Horse have been found among them. They
are nearly all natural PAGERS" and cannot often be
excelled as saddle ho:ses-carryng the rider with
! surprising ease and comtort-carryng him hand
somely and speedily, day after day.
We have heard Of a physician III one OF the
Eastern counties who did large and extensive
practice on one of those ponies, using no other
! horse and afterwards sold him for very large
price The only care this horse required after
hard days work, was to be turned loose on the
common to shift for himself He was always
ready for service next morning. During all that
e. l.; Iffn a
blade of fodder.
MANY of them will not cat corn, and there is a
risk to run in attempting by starvation, to teach
them to feed the provender usually ted to
other horses. The slender feeding they require
when taken beyond the reach of their native
pastures, if allowed to erase on the common
makes them the cheapest horse known At home,
they require, and receive, nothing beyond what
they can gather from the marshes. In former
times they were lightly esteemed; but of late
years, first rate pony will readily command from
$3.50 to 200. They are used either in harness or
under the saddle but not, VIC think, depended
on for heavy work
There are two days in each year when the own
ers of the ponies visit the pastures and have what
they call pony pennings' These arc very pub
lie days, and large numbers of people usually at
tend them The objects in view are, either tc
} brand the colts which have been dropped during
the Spring, or to take away such Of tie horses as
the owners may wish to use sell. Last Saturday
(May 15th was one of those days, and on the 9th
} July is the other These are days of excitemcn
and fun as well as of business. 1t is sad to be
rare sport to catch and confine the ponies. Foal
ed and reared on the sand banks and marshes a
some distance from the habitation Of man. they are
} as wild as mountain goats and to capture them re
J quires skill, courage and strength.
J The first thing necessary to be done to catci
them, is to build strong pen on point of ant
iuttng out into the water, leaving the land SIDE
| open so that the ponies can run INTO 1T. MOUNTED
drivers are then sent out through the pasture, t.
drive up the herd while the people, who have as
sembled on the occasion, arrange themselves II
two rows, leading from the Pen like the wings Q
e bird net After while the yelling Of the drl
vers and the cracking of their long whips hear'
in the distance and soon the ponies seen tear
7 ing through the tall grass The people at the pei
remain quiet, and in due time the drove rush int
the pen, when far that goes, they are secure
: The two wings come together, and the pen is thc1
y closed up on all sides The ponies are trembln;
a with fright, and pack themselves so c!osel
b together in one end, that it is uncommon thin;
to see one pressed UP above the rest and founder
o ing on the backs Of the herd.
5 But to catch them, one by one, and bring ther
out is said to be the work OF difficulty and daring
1t requires strong and fearless man to do TIN
s successfully The mode is to enter the pen an
il catch them by the head or around the hecH, an
o by physical strength overcome them, and lea
e them out We think better plan could b
II adoptcd.] The and horse struggling annidS
1t the herd, is sometimes on top, and then unde
the rest-ill of them rushing, rearing, and jumI
i ing in the widest conusiGn that spectators ar
a alarmed for the safety Of the man. But havln
If once overcome one of them and secured him wit
;, a bride or halter, he is submissive, and yield
a without further resistance. In few weeks the
t. become tame and conlidng and arc then ready ft
IS seryice-,SalisLury Uutchman.