I20 TRAINING THE POLO PONY. [Chap. V. 



near hind foot on the ground and under the body, and 

 the other three feet off the ground, all four legs will be 

 in the correct order of movement for the canter. As 

 soon as he is in the canter, we should let the reins 

 loose. When the pony has learned to answer these 

 aids accurately and promptly, the reversed aids can be 

 employed to get him to strike off into a canter, with 

 the near fore leading, when trotting on a circle to the 

 left. As soon as he has attained proficiency in this, 

 we may make him change from the trot into the canter, 

 with whichever fore leg we wish, when going in a 

 straight direction. And then we can teach him to 

 change from the walk into the canter, in the same way 

 as before, except that the indications of heel and voice 

 should be given at the moment the near fore is being 

 extended to the front, if we wish him to lead with the 

 off fore and off hind ; and vice versa. When he can 

 do all these movements properly, we may teach him to 

 start into the canter from the halt, and finally convert 

 the canter into the gallop, by practice. 



TO TURN RIGHT ABOUT OR LEFT ABOUT AT THE CANTER 



OR GALLOP. 



To turn to the right about, begin with both hands 

 on the reins and apply the aids for stopping the pony 

 dead. Separate the hands and feel the right rein, by 

 drawing the right hand back to the right knee ; press 

 the left rein against the left side of the pony's neck ; 

 strongly apply the drawn-back left heel, so as to make 

 him swing round on his hocks and be ready to strike 

 off with his hind legs well under him ; bring the weight 

 of the body back and to the off side, in order to fix 



