POTENTIAL REWARDS. 119 



this. If he does, one of his legs may be strapped up (353), and, 

 whilst you hold him by the head, let your assistant place the 

 scare crow on his back, and move it about until he cares nothing 

 about it. Then put down the strapped leg, and lead the pony on, 

 whilst your assistant holds on the scare crow. Get back to the 

 reins as soon as all goes smoothly, and let your assistant step 

 gently away, when the scare crow will fall oflF, whilst you stop the 

 pony at the same time with the reins. At the first fall, let tlie 

 pony step past the scare crow, and don't be too rash with your 

 reins, or you may make the pony step on the scare crow, which he 

 should never do As soon as the pony is stopped, go up to him 

 and give him a few handfuls of oats, or something that yon have 

 provided as a known luxury, fondling and soothing him at the 

 same time. If more likely to be a treat to him let him crop a 

 few mouthfuls of grass, but oats should alwavs be a treat to a 

 child's pony, as they are to any horse not highly fed witli them. 

 All this may l)e repeated again and again, stopping the pony 

 more sharply and suddenly at each fall of the scare crow, and 

 letting him rest and feed after each stop until he stops of his own 

 accord, which he will very soon do. Let this lesson be repeated 

 day after day, until stopping at a fall becomes an established 

 habit with the pony (IDS). 



247. — For the next lesson your assistant should be a boy 

 that is not afraid of a horse, that can ride a little, and will do 

 what he is told. His clothes should not be a very valuablp suit, 

 and he should have no boots on his feet. Put a halter on the 

 pony, with a bit buckled to it for your own use, but let the boy's 

 riding reins be fastened to the upper rings of the halter, so that 

 he cannot interfere much with the pony's mouth. Put on a 

 saddle without stirrups. Then put the boy on the pony and lead 

 him yourself to some ploughed field, or other soft ground, taking 

 your long reins with you, and your pocket full of oats, of which 

 the boys pockets should also contain a supply. When you come 

 to soft ground let the boy get off, and going up to the ])ony's 

 head give him a handful of oats, and a rough patting and 

 rubbing all round, whilsc you hold the pony's head and hold up one 

 of its fore legs in your hand. However quiet the pony may be it is 



