i8o Our Noblest Friend, The Horse 



being thus, if used by children, of longer service, 

 since the youngsters do not so readily outgrow them. 

 Indeed, the very small ponies are used principally 

 by children, w'ho' perhaps would do as well to wait 

 until greater age brought increased capacity, not 

 only for absorbing, but for utilising, the knowledge 

 of riding and driving, which such experiences are 

 intended primarily to promote, and even for such use 

 the larger are more docile and less tricky, more like 

 horses and less like little scoundrels. Nor are the 

 very little things so proportionately narrow through 

 where their young riders' tiny legs must strive to 

 clasp, that any advantage is gained by employing 

 them, for they are generally straight and heavy 

 shouldered, and hugely overburdened with flesh, 

 through full feeding and light exercise. The larger 

 pony is much oftener narrow and true-made 

 throughout, and quite sufficiently so for the child 

 who begins really tO' ride at a suitable age, and not at 

 the tender period which so often brings accidents in 

 its train when equestrianism is unwisely attempted. 

 A child has not far to fall if thrown from a small 



