TO MEET OTHER PONIES. 123 



be advisable to canter him in several circles at one 

 end of the school, before making him change, as before 

 explained ; and when the change has been made, to 

 give him several circles on the other rein at the other 

 end of the school, before changing him back to the 

 original rein. Before trying the figure of 8, a pony 

 should be well practised in cantering round the school, 

 so that he may get accustomed to lead with the correct 

 leg. Ponies very soon learn to lead with the inward leg- 

 when going round the school ; because they find that 

 they can turn much more easily on it than on the out- 

 ward leg. If a pony is leading falsely when going 

 along the side of the school, a corner will be the easiest 

 spot at which to make the correction. 



TO GO WITH A LOOSE REIN IN ALL PACES. 



I cannot give much advice on this point, beyond 

 recommending the rider to accustom the pupil at first 

 to walk about with the reins hanging loosely. The 

 pony then be gently trotted, and the pace gradually 

 increased, so that he may understand that he has to go 

 at any pace with the reins loose ; and that when they 

 are tightened, he has to reduce his pace proportion- 

 ately to the tension exerted by them on the mouth- 

 piece of the bit. 



TO MEET OTHER PONIES. 



This may be easily taught by riding the pony to- 

 wards two others coming in an opposite direction, and 

 passing between them. We should begin at a walk, 

 and gradually increase the pace, until the pupil will go 

 through the narrowest practicable opening at full pace 



