THE POLO PONY, 319 



Men who think, when riding with the reins in one hand, 

 and separated, according to the Cavalry Regulations, by 

 the Httle finger, that they can turn the horse merely by 

 shortening the inward rein, should try to do so when sitting 

 on the box-seat of a one-horse carriage, and holding the 

 reins in one hand. They will then find that, as the reins 

 are prevented by the terret-rings from being brought 

 against the neck, they will be unable to effect the turn in 

 the manner asserted. In turning the horse with the reins 

 in one hand, the hand has to be held higher than when both 

 hands are used ; for the effect of the outward rein on the 

 neck in turning increases according to the distance, from 

 the withers, of its point of contact. As the troop horse 

 may have to go over a country, he should go up to his 

 bridle more freely than the school horse. A state of 

 collection should be maintained with cavalry horses only 

 during the time it is necessary for the execution of some 

 particular manoeuvre and to keep their place in the ranks. 



The polo pony, like the cavalry horse, should be ridden 

 always with one hand, except during his first lessons. He 

 may be put through the same course of instruction as the 

 trooper (see preceding section), except that he need not 

 be taught to jump, and his paces should be confined to the 

 walk, canter, and gallop. He should be practised at starting 

 off into full gallop and halting as quickly as possible. He 

 should be taught to carry his head high, and to avoid going 

 up to his bridle, so that he can be halted and turned in a 

 moment, when required. He ought to have a good deal of 

 work with the long reins and at passaging, so as to prevent 



