Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-02-18
THE HORSE
BY JOSEPH BATTELL
From Advance Sheets.
Copyright Secured.
Continued from last aOeek.
USEFUL HORSES AND PONIES.

existed this forest William Rufus The Romans
are believed worked iron mines the which have
recently reopened Exmoor consists of 10000 at an
elevation varying feet above the OF undu-
latng divided by valleys "combe through which the
which in lone of its Valleys with its tributary the
Bare devious way the form of pleasant trout streams
rafting over and among huge and creeping through deep
poos-a very anglers paradise Like similar districts in the
Scotch Highlands pmeva times been the resort of the
red called although the trees with which its
valleys filled have long disappeared
sides the steep Valleys of which include an acre
miles, usually covered with ben
herbage and there with heather and bbery plants pngng
from deep black soil At certain spots hue marks
boys which impede but deep enough to
engulf the incautious horseman.
Exmoo may be nothing strange to those accustomed to wild
scenery To who has known country scenes only the
regions England and who has but recently quilted
perpetual London there something strangely solemn
and impressive in the deep silence OF ride across the forest
the left themselves, rapidly pick their
way through pools and boys and canter smoothly dry flats OF
safely down the precptous descents
climb with scarcely puff distress these steep ascents splash
through the sweed by rain without mo-
hesitation and along sheep paths beewed with loose
without STUMBLE that you perfectly at liberty to
enjoy luxury and follow the winding Valleys
and study the rich green and purple herbage.
ga sight scarcely less interesting than the deer was afforded
by white pony with her young stock consisting of foa still
sucking yeang and twoyearold which met in the valley
Barrie The woyear-od had strayed away feeding until
alarmed by the cracking whips and the neghng of its DAM
when galopng down steep combc neighng loudly at
headog speed 1t thus these ponies learn their action and
footedness
was hill land such have aversed entirely
wild without enclosures roads fences that into the hands
the father of the present proprietor Mr. Frederick Vim Knight
MP He built of forty miles around it; made roads,
closed for his SmOns Bath introduced large
breeding Highland cattle the and up consd-
cradle stud for rearing szed horses which the stock
formed only secondary consideration.
The Simon Bath Stud consisted of thoroughbred and
thirty large Yorkshire mares, together with
and three of the DOngoa breed (o which heeaer
very ponies The result the production many val
liable hunters, hacks, and harness horses.
many years. when the aghounds oXhound of this
the open hills the Exmoorbred horses
ahead and long unequeny the only horses
left with the hounds the finish Twent-eght horses of the
Smons Bath stud going the best hunters with
the various packs the nhborng countless besides those selected
by the for his hunting stables.
The EXmoor stud sold the demise of Mr. Knight ST.
in 1880 by his and the Smon Bath farm lands let
The efforts the late Mr. Knight for the improvement
Exmoo did with the they deserved He persisted
for following the ourcourse system cultivation under
which he had his time larger sandy and
barren heahs in the north Worcestershire
excellent turnp and barley land His large
comfed suited to the elevation and climate OF Exmoor
his mode of cultivation rather opposed than encouraged the produc
ton improved grass land for which the soil and climate
these hills have since been proved be we'll adapted The
great increase the prices of sheep cattle and dairy produce and
the improved facilities afforded by railways reaching the Bristol
and London markets. rapidly augmenng the value the
grass lands of North Devon.
Coming did, from of the where ponies
the perqutes old ladies and little children
weshaped horse be got hands the better
first feeling mounting rough little unkempt brute, fresh
the moor barely hands (4S nches height intensely
ridiculous 1t the slightest mistake would
rider clean the animals head But learned
indigenous pony certain useful qualities be surpassed
by animals greater and pretenons We the
by the bridge but by the ford and passing through the
struggling stone village Smons Bath arrived sight of the field
where the Taersa of the sell the wild
stock bred the 1t field of and
hail. forming very steep SLOPE with the upper part comparatively