86 HORSES 



horse until you have had considerable experience 

 with a pony. The pony you ride will be none the 

 worse for an occasional day between the shafts, 

 and it will keep him from getting too fresh. I 

 always thought that a drive for the sake of driving 

 was very poor fun. To enjoy a drive one wants to 

 have an object in view, besides the mere pleasure 

 of sitting behind one horse or a pair. 



Let us imagine you have three or four friends 

 stopping with you, and you know some spot, say 

 six or eight miles from home, where you would 

 like to have a picnic. This is a good opportunity 

 to show that you can harness your pony as well 

 as drive him. I suppose it is unnecessary to tell 

 you not to forget the eatables, but there are one 

 or two things that might escape your memory. 

 Here is a list that may assist you. A bucket (tin) 

 to water the pony, and a feed of corn if you are 

 going any distance. The food you take for your- 

 selves should not be too elaborate, or it will spoil 

 the fun of the thing. A kettle is the chief article, 

 and you can carry the water in wine-bottles, which 

 need not be brought back. A teapot, cups, loaf of 

 bread, pot of jam, tea, and a bottle of milk are 

 absolutely indispensable. A few knives and spoons 

 will also add to your comfort, but the latter articles 

 have a way of losing themselves on these occasions, 

 and it is therefore as well they should not be of any 

 great value. The materials for making and starting 

 a fire must not be omitted, but they will depend a 

 good deal on what can be gathered on the spot, 



