no 



TRAINING THE POLO PONY. [Chap. V. 



Keeping in view the sound principle that the educa- 

 tion of a polo pony should be progressive, we may 

 divide it into the following stages : — 



1. Making him quiet to ride. 



2. Mouthing him. 



3. Making him handy in his slow paces. 



4. Making him handy in his quick paces. 



j_ . 



Photo bii] 



Fig. 50.— Circling with long reins. 



[M. H. Hayes. 



5. Breaking him to stick and ball. 



6. Teaching him polo. 



By the statement that each step should be pro- 

 gressive, I mean that we should pay particular 

 attention to each lesson, so as to thoroughly prepare 

 him for the next one. A good horseman w^ill of 

 course start making the pony's mouth from the time 

 he first gets on his back, and ponies may be broken 

 to stick and ball at a walk, as soon as they are quiet 

 to ride, and while they are still low in condition. 



