Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-02
Ponyland

The fondest dreams and most cher
ished ambitions Of boys and girls may
for the most part differ as widely as the
poles themselves; but that they may
some day possess and drive pony of
their very own--in this they are alike.
| Indeed, we should have strong grounds
for doubling the normal development
Of any child who was stranger to such
desire. 1t may be often wise to curb a
child's ambition, or refuse to crafty
his wishes; but In this matter it Is
highly desirable to indulge his longing,
II circumstances will by any means
permit Besides Offering pleasant and
healthful recreation, the possession of
a pony teaches lasting lessons in love
and kindness to all Gods living crea-
lures.
The development Of the pony and it's
possibilities have been recognized only
In recent years, with the result that
pony farms have been established in
various sections Of the country.
One Of the most prominent of these,
probably the largest, is pony farm
near Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio.
The owner was led by his natural love
Of animals. combined with an acute
business sense. to establish farm for
the raising of Shetland ponies. The
Shetlands were chosen rather than the
Welsh. for while similar in many re-
spects, the Shetlands are more desir-
able in respect to size and appearance,
and in disposition are gentler and more
tractable. These latter qualities are
most essential, as the great majority of
ponies become the property Of children
and must be trustworthy. These stock
lily built little fellows are seldom more
than forty-two inches in height. and
their weight will scarcely average four
surprisingly strong, and can easily
manage burdens apparently out of pro-
portion to their size, and while their
powers Of endurance will permit their
travelling forty or more miles day, it
Is unwise as well as unkind to expect
much of them until they are we'll ma
tured. A pony Of two or three years
should be very carefully handled. and
when he Is four or five years old he will
amply repay this consideration. This
too, will guard against his becoming
"sway-backed," obviously a most unde-
sirable condition. Their period of use
fulness exceeds that of ordinary horses,
and 1t is not too much to expect moder-
ate service from them even after they
are more than twenty years old.
This pony industry represents a
growth of less than ten years. 1t began
with the possession of a single animal.
NOW, nunQTeQS are SOLO eacn year. Inc
farms include more than eleven hun
dred acres. All the ponies are snugly
housed during the severe winter
weather in the colony system. which is
the most successful with these loyal
little creatures. In the early spring they
are turned out into green pastures to
thrive and multiply and prepare to
bring happiness to childhood hearts.
The hair, grown shaggy and rather I'M
attractive. is smoothly clipped, and in
two or three weeks sleek, we'll groom
ed, contented ponies may be seen by
the hundreds.
Training the ponies for driving is an
interesting process, for cruelty to ami
mails Is crime, and it is common
knowledge among the employees that a
man will be more quickly discharged
for mistreating an animal than for al
most any other offense. The ancient
tradition that the way to break" a
horse is to wait till he is old enough to
work and then beat him into submission
has been exploded here. Tiny colts are
laugh to lead, are handled and petted
and put into small harness and when