SCARE CHOW. 117 



part, to pub anything on it, and to pull it about in any 

 direction. For the same reason we would always break them 

 in to harness, whether required for it or not, as it gives an 

 opportunity to familiarise the pony to a number of sights 

 and sounds, that it must be reconciled to, and a little 

 deadening of an extremely sensitive mouth would hardly be an 

 objection in a child's pony. After the usual education both for 

 saddle (183 to 220) and light harness (379 to 403), it should be 

 taught to let a child roll under it, to hold on to its legs, or tail, 

 and to stop when he hears the word *' whay," or the moment its 

 rider has lost his seat, lessons that would be well taught to the 

 hunter, or to any other riding horse, but which are quite essential 

 to a child's pony. 



241. — Get a strong suit of boys old clothes, and with sticks, 

 ropes, and straw, make, what is called a scare crow, but what 

 in this case, may be as strong and as handsome an imitation 

 of a boy as you can manage. Take it to the pony for approval. 

 Let him have a good look at it and touch it with his muzzle. 

 Then put it down on the ground and get the pony to investigate 

 it there, moving it into several diflterent positions. 



242. — After this tie it securely on to a piece of plank 

 rounded on the under front edge, so that it can be drawn like a 

 sledsre. Let the head of the scare crow rest on the back end of 

 the plank or sledge, and fasten a small rope or strap eight feet 

 long to the front end. Now take the pony and the scare crow 

 into a grass field, and again invite him to inspect your work. 

 Then take the pony in your right hand and the scare crow line 

 in your left and walk on, so that the pony can see the scare crow 

 di-agging along by its side. If it is much alarmed about it, 

 stop and get it to have another look at the scare crow on the 

 ground, and then move gently on again. When it takes little 

 notice of it, lengthen and shorten the rope, and let it see it 

 nearer and farther behind it. When nothing will alarm it on that 

 side, change hands and try the other side. 



243. — When quite reconciled Co it on both sides get a pair 

 of long reins on the pony, and tying the scare crow to one side of 

 the saddle, drive the pony about with it for an hour, after which 



