LONG REIN DRIVING. 113 



I would recommend the breaker to get an assistant to 

 stand in front of the pony with a long cane in his 

 hand, and, as the pressure of the reins is applied, to 

 wave the stick slowly in front of the animal's face, and 

 to keep repeating in a drawling tone of voice, the 

 word "back!" If the pony continues to fight, the 

 reins may be buckled to the nose-band, so as not to 

 hurt the mouth, and the assistant may tap the legs of 

 the pony alternately before and behind, taking care to 

 select the leg which should be the next to move. 



When the pony is quiet at a walk on both circles, 

 will turn both ways, and rein back at word of 

 command, an assistant may mount him, and the 

 breaker may continue to circle, turn and rein him 

 back as before, by means of the long reins. 



The pony may now be taught to strike off into the 

 canter in circles of gradually decreasing size, until he 

 is rendered sufficiently handy and collected. Can- 

 tering a pony in small circles, whether with the long- 

 reins or mounted, is an admirable practice for calming 

 down excitable animals, and for teaching awkward 

 ones to go collectedly. We must not consider our 

 pupil perfect with the long reins, until we can make 

 him change from one circle to the other, whether the 

 outward rein be round the quarter, as in Fig. 50, or 

 only on the pad, as in Fig. 51. We do this by slack- 

 ening out the outer rein, and pulling on the inner one, 

 after having first shortened it. 



It must be borne in mind that in all breaking, the 

 voice is of great use, and that ponies soon learn to 

 know and obey these three simple words of command : 

 "whoa !" "back!" "hup!" 



The word "whoa!" should be pronounced sharply 



8 



