42 HORSES 



to buy too young an animal. Never mind how 

 old the pony is, if he is sure-footed and does not 

 stumble. A "slug" is to be preferred to a fiery 

 animal, as the boy gains confidence when he can 

 kick his pony in the ribs, and controlling a too 

 willing animal by the bridle is as yet to him an 

 unknown art. 



The absence of every vice is imperative, such as 

 kicking, shying, rearing, or bucking. 



Good shoulders are necessary, and are as impor- 

 tant in a boy's first pony as a hunter. The reason 

 for this is that a good-shouldered, well-behaved 

 pony is easy and pleasant to ride, so that a be- 

 ginner soon learns to enjoy the motion ; whereas 

 a heavy-shouldered brute, that is uncomfortable 

 even for an expert rider, would shake out any 

 desire he had to become a proficient horseman. 

 The smaller the pony the better, if it is strong 

 enough to carry the weight required ; and it should 

 never be too big for the boy to mount easily by 

 himself. The beginner's first idea when he gets 

 on to the back of horse or pony is that he must 

 fall off, and, the nearer he is to the ground, the less 

 terrible will this prospect appear. 



The boy who thinks nothing of a fall on the ice, 

 or being knocked over at football with half-a-dozen 

 others on top of him, will tremble at the idea of 

 tumbling a few feet from a saddle. Let him over- 

 come this feeling as quickly as possible, and he will 

 soon gain that confidence in himself without which 

 there is no pleasure in riding. 



