FOOD, PHYSIC, AND EXERCISE 5 



he has become a fairly proficient rider. The pony 

 that lives in a stable and is corn fed, is apt to 

 develop tricks which are disconcerting to the in- 

 experienced youthful horseman, and it is all-im- 

 portant to the beginner to have full confidence in 

 himself. Confidence is the first thing to be ac- 

 quired, and anything to shake it is liable to injure 

 the nerves. 



A feed of corn the day he is ridden is quite 

 enough to keep a pony in good heart at grass, 

 and more young nerves have been ruined by the 

 stabled pony than anything else. This is a picture 

 of what frequently occurs. Master George comes 

 home for the summer holidays, an4 his pony, who 

 has been at grass, is brought up. For the first 

 week or two he rides regularly, and then there 

 is a cricket match to be played, or something 

 more exciting than a lonely ride. Meanwhile 

 the pony, who was rapidly becoming fit, has the 

 same allowance of corn as a sixteen-hand horse 

 and little or no exercise. No groom would ever 

 think it necessary regularly to exercise a pony. 

 The day comes when Master George wants to ride 

 again, and John is told to saddle the pony. There 

 is a little prancing about at the start, but except 

 that George thinks his pony's back feels higher 

 than usual, all goes well until they reach a strip 

 of grass. George decides to have a canter, and digs 

 in his heels. The next minute the green grass rises 

 up to meet him, and then he finds it hitting him 

 hard in the back. He has only been kicked off, 



