112 TRAINING THE POLO PONY. [Chap. V. 



able to teach a pony to answer a feeling of either rein 

 with his hind-quarters, as well as w^th his head and 

 neck, so that w^e can get him to turn ''all in one piece," 

 by the reins alone. We all know^ that when a badly 

 broken horse "runs out" at a fence, the fact of the 

 rider being able to pull his head round towards the 

 obstacle, will have little or no effect in straightening 

 him, unless he is made at the same time to bring his 

 hind-quarters round, w^hich is a difficulty that is readily 

 overcome by the long-rein method. For instance, if 

 the breaker who is in a position similar to that of the 

 man in Fig. 50, wishes to turn his pony to the right, 

 he will take a long step forward with the right foot ; 

 will slide the right hand forward on the off rein, while 

 holding both reins in the left hand ; and will take a 

 steady pull of the off rein with the right hand, by 

 which means the animal's head will be drawn round 

 to the right and his hind-quarters w^ill be pushed over 

 to the left, by the pressure of the rein on them. As 

 soon as the turn has been completed, the breaker w^ill 

 check the further revolution of the hind quarters by 

 feeling the left rein, which will then act in a manner 

 similar to that of the drawn-back outward leg of a 

 skilful horseman. To obtain a good result with the 

 long reins, it is of course necessary that the employer 

 of this method should thoroughly understand its 

 principles and practice, which he can do only by 

 intelligent and assiduous study, and which will be 

 greatly facilitated by competent instruction. 



One of the most important lessons to teach a pony 

 is to make him rein back collectedly, which can be 

 done more easily with long reins, than by any other 

 system. If the pupil fights against this movement, 



