The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-11

Theodore Cuyler Patterson's article en-
titled '"The Modern Pony" In the June
Era, will attract the attention OF all ins-
had no distinct native variety which
can be fairly called q pony unless we
shall claim such the Chincoteague
(from the island Of that name), and the
small horse known as the Indian pony.
This latter animal varies from less than
IA hands to Is hands and more In height,
and rs said TO be descended from the Barb
horses. which were brought into and left
by the Spaniards in Mexico and Louisiana,
but which. through centuries OF wild life
and hard living, with frequent admixture
OF poor alien blood, have degenerated into
the mustangs and bronchos-the wild
horses OF the Western plains.
These. because of their scant forage
and constant hardships. have dwfnuled In
size somewhat, but II may be expected
that they will increase I'm stoture so soon
as they shall have time to feel the ef-
fects OF civilization. Because OF their
very doubtful blood, they would be OF
small use for breeding. even II their un-
ruly tempers could be brought under con-
troll, and II Is moreover to be feared that
the climate conditions OF our Eastern
states would prove a serious obstacle to
their successful use when transplanted
from the wide ranges and high altitude
OF their native pastures. Some attempts
have been made 10 cross them with def
cient thoroughbreds with not however,
encouraging results. the half-breeds thus
produced being too often oversize and
too light OF bone. TO say nothing OF their
general deficiency OF temper and frequent
unsoundness. They have nothing but
cheapness 10 recommend them"
From time TO time some Welsh ponies
and less OF the other varieties of Great
Britain have been imported here but II
n he MT m n iun
OF the abler kinds OF ponies has been. 10
any sufficient extent carried on In Amer
lea, and yet that there IL a strong demand
and will be I'm an increasing and profitable
market for such brecdings there can be
no doubt. That this is not without appre-
ciation here In shown by n recent article
In one OF our horse papers which quotes
Mr.. II. l.. Herbert. a recognized authonty
and chairman OF the Polo association, as
saying: What we need now IL 10 have
stock farmers GO into the breeding OF po-
nies-the venture would pay Handsomely
II would be a great acquisition TO have
ponies bred for polo instead OF being
picked out Of herds OF cow ponies"
Apart from the pleasureable use In rid
ing and driving. 10 which the IL hand
2 inch pony could be put, there are loud
calls for him I'm England and on the con-
tinent for army use Mr.. w. Scawen
Blunt, who IL well known a breeder OF
ARABS IN England, says In MS recent pa
per I'm the Nineteenth Century Review:
The argument for small horses IN war
is one capable OF almost mathematical
demonstrations In every campaign horses
have to be put up with short rauons.
and the horse that can do with the least
and worst food lasts the longest, and the
longest laster wins. II, then. a small
horse can maintain himself where a big
one starves, doing nearly equal work. the
small horse Is the better. The small
horse. too. is easier managed: he is less
troublesome 10 mount and dismount
from. and this last is no small advantage.
The small horse Is "A smaller target, II cas-
Ter hidden IN the folds Of the ground ana
is easier slowed on shipboard." And all
this has been abundan,ly proved In the
South African campaign and I'm the Phil
ippines.
The breeding Of able ponies has been
too long neglected In america; ~ becomes
US, then, to turn our attention 10 sucn
breeding that we may realize our ialr
share OF the profit which will acrrue.
England will be large customer. ano
will take from us AL that we can supply
OF the right sort As Sir Walter Gilbey
says: Tho value of the hrst-rate pony
has risen 90 level which compels atten-
tion to It's breeding as remuneratiye
branch 10 Industry"