122 TRAINING THE POLO PONY. [Chap. V. 



turn, circle, and change direction. If he makes any of 

 these movements with the outward fore leg leading, 

 he will be liable not only to cross his legs, but also to 

 overbalance himself, especially on slippery ground, in 

 either of which cases a fall will be the probable result. 

 In fact, more falls occur at polo by ponies thus " going 

 false," than from any other cause. The change in 

 question is made by the hind legs as well as the fore 

 ones. Therefore, when a pony is leading with the 

 right fore, he should change all four legs the instant 

 he is circled or even slightly turned to the left ; and 

 vice versa. Practice at the figure of 8 is the best 

 means for teaching him to make these indispensable 

 changes. 



FIGURE OF 8. 



As I have already explained how to make a pony 

 lead off with either fore leg, we will suppose that he is 

 started leading with the off fore and off hind on the 

 right circle. He will remain on the right circle until 

 he completes it, when a change is made by collecting 

 him with both reins, applying a strong pressure of 

 the drawn-back right heel behind the girth, pressing 

 the right rein on the right side of the neck, and 

 throwing the weight of the body to the left, in which 

 direction the pony will now proceed, and will form 

 the other loop of the figure of 8 by circling to the 

 left. The next change is made at the same place 

 by reversing the aids. If he will not change, we 

 may pull him back into a trot, and make the change 

 in one of the corners, by starting him into the canter at 

 that spot. 



In doing the figure of 8 with a young pony, it will 



