TEACHING THE YOUNG IDEA. Iir 



though level with his horse — if too close, a sudden start 

 might unseat the child, and throw him among the horse's 

 feet — the pupil, led at a walk, must now be taught to keep 

 his hands steady, and to put his earlier teaching into 

 practice. Confine the first lessons to careful instruction in 

 handling the reins, how to incline and turn to the right or 

 left, to circle, to turn about and to stop. 



When the pupil is fairly proficient at the walk then try a 

 jog-trot for a few paces. The instructor's careful attention 

 must be directed to the endeavour to get him to preserve 

 the seat rather by balance than by grip, to abandon the hold 

 on the roll in front of the saddle and thus to have the hands 

 free to guide the pony. At first he need not bother himself 

 or his pupil about sitting up, keeping the elbows in, and 

 so forth ; all that will come in good time when the rough 

 motion is got over, the little muscles have begun to adapt 

 themselves to the up-and-down action which at first shakes 

 loose and displaces every effort at grip, and the tender skin 

 gets hardened. The child cannot learn everything at once, 

 there is no need for cramming, fesiina lenie best does it. 



When a sufiiciently firm seat has been obtained, quite 

 independent of the reins, the pupil begins to acquire con- 

 fidence, and can guide and control the pony, putting it from 

 the walk into the trot, and keeping up the trot for half a 

 mile or so without slipping, like a pair of compasses, first to 

 the right side of the saddle and then to the left, half the 

 battle is won. The child's enjoyment of the ride is the 

 surest index of progress. The undulating motion of the 

 canter will be appreciated as a relaxation after the jolt of 

 the trot. Day by day the leading rein will be brought less 

 into use, till at length the youthful rider is permitted to try 

 its "prentice hand" free from the leading strings, first of 

 all in some quiet paddock or field, and then in company 



