126 BREAKING AND TRAINING 



polo pony's training, and equally important is the 

 " bending " course of instruction. 



For this latter exercise form two long lines of tall 

 sticks — say, six feet high — the space between the lines 

 being about twenty-five yards, and the intervals 

 between the stakes ten yards or thereabouts. Drive 

 the sticks only lightly in the ground. Now canter the 

 pony up one set and down the other, dodging 

 " in " and " out " between the sticks of the same 

 side. 



Next train to the use of the stick. Naturally the 

 pony will fear this at the outset. Put on the halter 

 twitch, which must be held by an assistant, and then 

 flourish the stick in front of and around the pony. 



These exercises on foot with the stick must be supple- 

 mented by the same course on his back, but at the 

 halt, until he no longer regards the strokes and 

 flourishes with fear. Repeat this at the walk, trot, 

 canter and gallop. A soft ball may now be employed, 

 substituting a hard ball, first at the walk and then 

 increased paces. 



The pony must be taught to follow the ball, in fact, 

 to take as much interest in the pursuit of the excite- 

 ment as the player. 



