Ponies past and present

by Sir Walter Gilbey

To summarise briefly what has been said in this chapter, the position is this:—

(1) Ponies with blood, speed, courage, and the many qualities essential to make a first-class Polo Pony are rare.

(2) (a) They command fancy prices when trained, but (b) it is only when trained and proven that they command high prices.

(3) The difficulty of producing a breed of blood ponies is due (a) to the long-maintained and successful endeavour to increase the size of the thoroughbred, and (b) to the fact that racehorses are bred for speed only, whereas speed is but one of the many qualities essential to the Polo Pony.

(4) To avoid this difficulty—

(a) The sire chosen for the foundation stock should be a small and compact Thoroughbred or an Arab.

(b) The dam used for foundation stock should be chosen from the best of our Forest or Moorland ponies.

(5) The tendency to undue increase in height should be counteracted—

(a) In the individual, by a free and natural life as far as climate permits.

(b) In the breed, by recourse to further infusion of Forest or Moorland blood when necessary.