RIDING AND DRIVING 93 



must be your care. We will suppose it is the after- 

 noon, and the long drive has made you ready for a 

 cup of tea. One of your friends can help you take 

 the pony out, the others you can send to collect 

 sticks for the fire and get the kettle to boil. 



The first thing to do is to tie up the reins to a ring 

 on the pad, and after you have unhitched the horse 

 you will take a double overhand knot in them, so 

 that they will not drag on the ground. Then un- 

 buckle the bridle from the bit on one side and slip 

 it out of his mouth, take the halter in your hand, 

 and lead him down to water. There may be a pool 

 or stream handy, but, if not, you will have to find 

 a pump or spring, and it was for that reason I 

 advised you to bring a bucket. When the pony 

 has quenched his thirst you will select a tree, 

 and tie him securely to it with the halter, but he 

 must be able to feed off the ground without being 

 able to get a leg over the halter. Give him the feed 

 of corn and then superintend the fire. 



This is not a treatise on camping out or picnics, 

 and if I write any more my editor will be calling 

 me to order, but before I leave you to enjoy your 

 outing there are two wrinkles I can give which may 

 be useful. The first is, get a big log of wood and 

 put on the weather side of your fire. The second 

 is, your kettle should be over the fire and not 

 resting on it. 



Good ''hands" are quite as important in driving 

 as riding, and it requires an artist to make a horse 

 really show himself to advantage. Driving with 



