Family Horse and Children's Pony i6i 



competent supervision, to use it at his pleasure, but 

 make him tend it in every detail of food, care, and 

 equipment as well — and if these pursuits fail of 

 interest, sell the animal forthwith. Familiarity 

 breeds contempt, and children are mischievous. As 

 soon as interest flags, they will begin to essay new 

 feats, and to make various experiments with their 

 charge. As long as he submits, all W'Cll and good, 

 but the time may come when he will not, and then 

 look out ! 



Children are kept at the " pony age " too long, 

 and these very small ponies are of little practical use. 

 A little horse of 14. i or .2 is more satisfactory in 

 every way, better shaped, better trained, lasts the 

 growing child longer, can be converted to various 

 family uses in a really practical way, is less expensive 

 to buy than the tiny ones, and eats very little more. 

 There is not one argument in favour of the small 

 beast, save that, if the child falls off. he has not 

 far to go. This argument has little force, for the 

 number of times a tricky little brute will put him 



