RIDING AND DRIVING 87 



though it is always advisable to take some dry stuff 

 to make a first blaze. See for yourself that a box 

 of matches is included, as they are very frequently 

 forgotten, the cook trusting to the butler to do it, 

 and the butler trusting to some one else. Now then, 

 harness your pony, pack in your things, and off 

 you go. 



I hope you will have found out the mysteries of 

 harnessing before you start on this expedition, but 

 I will take the opportunity of giving a few hints. 



We will return to the collar, to which I have 

 already referred. If the pony has a big head, or 

 the collar is on the small side, you must take off 

 the hames first. The hames are the metal portion 

 of the harness, by which the traces join issue with 

 the collar. Make the pony face you, then with 

 a hand on each side of the collar, the small end 

 down, give it a vigorous push and it will be over 

 his head in a second. Once on the neck, you will 

 find it quite easy to turn the collar round with the 

 narrow part upwards, but before you do so it is 

 advisable to buckle on the hames, as it is usual in 

 England to buckle them at the narrow end, and it is 

 difficult for a boy to reach the withers of a tall pony 

 in order to perform this operation. If you find the 

 pony's head does not slip easily through the open- 

 ing, take the collar in both hands, put one knee in 

 the inside and then place all your weight on it for 

 a second. 



Unless the pony is very quiet, it is advisable to 

 tie his head up again whilst you put on the rest of 



