Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

• They
HIGHLAND PASTURAGE. 93
horses are very various and undefined, and not often es-
timable for their beauty. Whether they ever possessed
the same breed as Shetland, is not known : at present,
there is no appearance of it, even in St. Kilda, where the
ancient sheep remain. As might be expected, in the vi-
cinity of the Lowlands they become of larger stature
and of greater diversity of form; often, however, without
gaining much, either in beauty or value. I have scarcely
seen any character, or points, by which a jockey would
distinguish any of the races. Every one agrees that the
breed of Tirey was eminently beautiful ; but not a relic
of it remains. Among those which I have seen, some in
Mull appeared to have most character; and they are also
esteemed among the most serviceable. They are of a
compact and handsome make, with somewhat of that
fineness of limb which is supposed to mark what is called
blood. There is no doubt that valuable ponies might be
found, and also bred in the Highlands ;
but they are ma-
terially injured, hardy as they are, by want of food and
shelter, and by ill treatment. They are very seldom
housed, and rarely have any winter food provided. When
worked, whatever that labour may be, they are scarcely
ever fed with corn ; nor, when ridden, stabled. If that
happens by chance, they have no bed. To feed horses
with oats in this country, would obviously be like treat-
ing them with roast beef and plum-pudding in England.
are turned loose in the hills or moors at night; if
necessary, tethered ; and must contrive, as well as they
can, to eat and sleep both, as fast as possible, that they
may be ready for the next day. With all this, the better
kinds endure a great deal of work, without remonstrance
or falling away. Breaking in, or education of any kind,
is, of course, out of the question. No great praise can
therefore be given to their paces ; but being generally