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Forsyth comments that he has read Ewart's notes and recommendations on ponies with interest. He requests that Ewart add a whole summary of recommendations and notes on the results of crossing experiments, so that the whole report can go to the Secretary directly.

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Forsyth lists the ponies which he proposes that the Congested Districts Board should take over from Ewart. He asks Ewart to check the list in advance of the Board's meeting and states that Lord Arthur Cecil may be asked to fix the prices for them.

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Forsyth confirms that his colleagues have agreed to the purchase of four of Ewart's ponies and the stud farm subject to certain conditions. Forsyth recommends that Ewart contact John Ritchie to engage him under terms recommended by Lord Arthur Cecil.

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Forsyth welcomes Ewart back from his travels in Mexico and states that he is enclosing a letter from Cecil about the ponies (which are in the process of being purchased by the Congested Districts Board). He makes arrangements to see Ewart.

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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.

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Forsyth asks Ewart to accompany him to Monkstadt (the experimental farm of the Congested Districts Board) to see the ponies. He also wishes to consult him about the some public allegations that the Congested Districts Board are reviving the Highland ponies by crossing them.

Scope and Contents Cecil is puzzled that Ewart mixed Spanish and horse blood and produced a Celtic pony, as he would have thought the mix would have produced the Island pony. He reports that Ritchie is annoyed that his neighbours prefer to use a crofters' pony to the Arab breed. He has written to Forsyth asking him to let the pony 'Atholl' to stand at the head of the Monkstadt stud (the experimental farm of the Congested Districts Board) on the Isle of Skye. He writes that he saw the best Highland ponies he...