The Australian "mail-man," or mounted postman, whose duty it is to
distribute and collect letters at the remote and scattered "stations"
far from railway centres, prefers small horses for his arduous work,
which demands endurance and speed. Thus they are described by
"Australian Native" in the _Field_ of June 11, 1892:--
"The mail-man's riding horse is of an entirely different class
[from the pack horse which carries the bags], and is probably
best described as a 'big little' animal, or a symmetrical,
typical English three-quarter bred hunter of 16 to 16.2 focused
into 13.2 or 13.3, with slightly higher withers, which gives
the appearance of a somewhat low back."
"Bearing in mind the character of mail-men's duty, it becomes
evident that of necessity their horses must possess combined
stamina, high courage and speed. The stamp described have these
qualities in a marked degree, and, in addition, their natural
paces of jog--not an amble--and daisy-cutting canter not only
enable them to get over the ground with great ease to
themselves but also to their riders. Moreover, these small
animals are not readily knocked up, but when they do get stale
and leg-weary through extra hard work on little food, a few
days on good grass is sufficient for them to regain their
vitality. In Australian parlance, they are 'cut-and-come-again
customers,' and unlike big horses, which, when they knock up,
knock up for an indefinitely long period.
"The smartest stock horses, those in use for drafting cattle,
are also small, handy and well up to 12 stone, and as their
prices are the same as mail-men's nags, from L4 to L8 per head,
the evidence in favour of small horses for utilitarian
purposes, and also on the score of economy, preponderates.
Would such small animals, withal tough and wiry, be suitable
for light cavalry?"