Ridgeway mentions Lydekker and Lankester's work on the preorbital part of the skulls of race horses and their theory that the 'blood-horse' derives from the Indian Equus sivalensis. Ridgeway believes that it is more likely to derive from Africa and Equus stenosis and asks Ewart if he has noticed any preorbital depressions in the skulls of Celtic ponies, as this could support the argument that the Celtic pony is a separate species or subspecies. He confirms that 'the elimination of chestnut from our racing stock is now certain.'