THE TRAINING OF PONIES 325. 



a game. If circumstances should allow of your acting as 

 umpire in a game, ride your pony then ; this will get him ac- 

 customed to other ponies galloping about near him, and will 

 not test his nerves too much. Nothing is so detrimental to a 

 pony as beginning to race directly he gets beside another pony 

 in a game, and for this reason a good polo pony should never 

 be raced. 



As I have remarked before, your one aim and object in 

 training a pony should be to invest the game with interest in 

 his mind ; everything towards attaining this object should be 

 done by kind treatment harshness should be unknown. If, 

 when practising, you take a few carrots in your pocket, and 

 when you stop to rest give your pony one or two, it will make 

 his associations with the game pleasant, and he will get fond 

 of it. 



When hitting the ball, always leave your pony's head free 

 and the reins loose. If they are held tight a jerk is sure to be 

 given to the pony's mouth, which he will connect in his mind 

 with the striking of the ball, and this will probably make him. 

 flinch and shy away from the stick. 



When your pony has become thoroughly accustomed to the 

 stick, and will follow the ball, going quietly and sedately, then 

 begin to gallop him, but do this very gradually, and always end 

 up with a slow practice. It is best to take your fast runs away 

 from home, as he will then not pull so much, and needless to 

 say that a pulling pony, or one that has acquired the habit in 

 the game, is practically useless. This defect then is important,, 

 and one that must be constantly guarded against. 



We will suppose now that after several weeks' practice (a 

 dozen is none too many) you have got your pony thoroughly- 

 handy, and that you have established the most amicable rela- 

 tions with him ; then is your time to introduce him to the real 

 business of his life, viz. playing in a game. Before doing this,, 

 however, get two other ponies, first four yards apart, then 

 narrowed to two yards, and make them meet you at a canter 

 and at a gallop, guiding your pony between them. This will 



