University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Photograph of the Hunter brood mare, "Speculation" and her foal, "Spendthrift" in a paddock. They won a first at Tumbridge Wells and the £50 Cup at the Royal Lancashire Show in 1905.

Cecil mentions that he has forwarded a letter to Forsyth showing that the Atholl horse is in demand. He enquires after 'young Willie' (presumably Cecil's son), who is currently staying with Ewart. He reports that there are two foals from 'Herd Laddie'. He confirms that the horse 'Glen' is the full brother of 'Highland Laddie' out of Coulmore's old 'Polly' by 'Alan Kingsburgh' (Lord Lovat's stallion).

Hagenbeck writes that the Przewalski's stallion with a longer mane than the others is now in the Zoological Gardens, Cincinnati. He is sorry that Ewart lost his Przewalski's horse without having a foal from him, and offers to send him one of his stallions for a year. He hopes to find a customer for Ewart's hybrid Onager and will send Ewart a photograph of his Java pony, which he will have to sell. He will also try to find out where the skin of a mountain zebra can be obtained.

Burn writes that it was the dam mare and not the filly that is without corns, and provides some details about the horse.

Oliphant reports that the little pony mare had a colt foal and that one of their crossbred ponies has been injured.

Oliphant reports that the last-born colt foal from Ewart's pony mare has died after being injured by some steers or a young bull. He asks what the arrangement will be about the pony mares and whether they are to purchase them from Ewart.

Oliphant announces the birth of a chestnut foal at Woburn Abbey: the product of a zebra mare and an Arabian sire horse, and with stripes and dappling on its legs, thighs and body.

Forsyth reports that the Congested Districts Board are now ceasing to breed ponies for the crofters as they believe they now have enough stock to keep them going. He thinks that the Board would be happy to purchase the ponies 'Fatima II' and 'Rhona' with their foals and agrees with Ewart that a Highland Pony Society should be formed to make for fairer judging between different breeds.

Naski discusses the patterns and colouring of foals hide in comparison with that of their parents and with respect to different breeds and the progeny of hybridisation experiments. He concludes that in most cases, stripes on the foals shoulders and legs tend to disappear when these horses reach maturity. Stripes are most common with white horses and are conversely very rare with brown ones.

McLeod reports that all except one of his half-Arabs were sold, although they did not fetch as much money as the Skye foals.