140 



POLO PONY GEAR. 



[Chap. VI. 



quite sufficient for the needs of an ordinary steed, 

 there are many others that may be used with ad- 

 vantage. We may often suit a pony's mouth by 

 altering- the height of port and length of cheek of 

 the ordinary hunting curb, or by covering the bit 

 with india-rubber or leather. Such cruel bits as 

 the Segundo and Chifney, should not be used ; 

 for although they may be employed, hacking or 



m\ '41 'dl 31 '71 '8! '9! 'IK 



Fig. 59. — Hanoverian Pelham. 



hunting, by , a man who has very good hands ; they 

 are too severe for polo, at which game a pony's 

 mouth is unavoidably wrenched and pulled about 

 a good deal at times. In India, I used severe 

 bits a good deal, until, on one occasion, I broke the 

 lower jaw of the pony I was riding, and then gave 

 them up for ever. After this pony, which was a 

 hard puller, had recovered from the fracture, I tried 

 him with such success in a short-cheeked hunting 

 bridle, with both bit and bridoon wrapped round 

 with wash-leather, that he gave up pulling. This is 



