HABIT CONFIRMED. 123 



and, without any connection that will be very apparent to the 

 pony. Mount your horse and ride by the side of the pony. It 

 will probably still stop instantly for the word, "whay ;" and if it 

 does so, after several trials, nothing more need be done, as it is 

 just as well that it should get no opportunity to see how matters 

 have been managed. If it shows any hesitation about stopping, 

 the wire reins must be brought severely into use, and taken off as 

 soon as the pony is quite sure to stop without them. Test the 

 pony's obedience on the following day, and repeat the whole, or 

 any part of the lesson if you find it necessary. The habit of 

 stopping to the word must be thoroughly established by constant 

 practice for some weeks after the lesson has been thoroughly 

 taught (198). Obedience to the word must also be constantly 

 enforced by any rider on the pony's back ; but above all, it must 

 never hear the word without obeying it. For this reason you 

 should never, but especially at first, use the word when trying to 

 catch the pony, or under any circumstances in which obedience 

 would be doubtful, and cannot be instantly enforced. 



255. — AVith ponies thus trained, we have turned our own five 

 boys out alone, with their little lively nags, and never had a 

 serious accident with any one of them. We would rather trust 

 them with such ponies alone, than with any number of grooms or 

 footmen watching them on ponies that are not under control. But 

 remember that no pony, however quiet and well-broken, can be 

 safe for a child's use if highly fed with corn and kept in a stable 

 without plenty of work. Paddock-fed ponies may not look so 

 bright, but they are infinitely safer for any child's use, and are 

 quite capable enough for anything that a child could require of 

 them. They may wear a canvas and felt cover during winter, and 

 at that season may get hay and even a little corn if they have 

 regular work. 



THE ROADSTER. 



256. — A horse can hardly l)e said to have passed his primary 

 education until he has been taught all that is really necessary 

 for an ordinary roadster to understand. We have practically 

 given his education in the riding horse's primary lessons, so that 

 we shall not have much to say about him in this chapter. 



