to draw lots, then,” said the Major. “But first of all, what about you other people?”
“Can I have the black?” asked John. As no one else wanted her, he was settled. Hilary asked for and was given the chestnut, and then, as Susan still hadn’t decided which pony she wanted, the Major made three lots, and June drew the longest, so, to Evelyn’s intense disgust, she chose the grey. Then Susan, Richard and Evelyn drew for the three remaining ponies. Richard, who got the longest lot, had the bay gelding, which was the tallest pony; Susan, who got the middling lot, had the bay mare; while Evelyn, who had the shortest lot, had the smallest pony, which was the skewbald. She was very cross, but Margaret was delighted,and whispered to James that they would be able to have a circus.
“Thank goodness, that’s settled,” said the Major. “I only hope everyone knows which pony they’ve got, for I certainly don’t. And now,” he went on, “if you will all come back to the stables, I want to show you a few things about lungeing on one of my youngsters.”
As they walked back across the fields, Major Holbrooke explained about lungeing. He said he expected they had all seen it done, but, for the benefit of any one who hadn’t, it was simply making a horse walk, trot and canter on a long webbing rein fixed to his head-collar and held by the trainer who, by standing more or less in the same place, causes the horse to go round in a continuous circle. Lungeing was, he said, an excellent thing for the young horse, as it balanced and suppled him, thus improving his head-carriage and making him stride out properly, besides teaching him the words of command, which were so important when you first started to ride him.
When they reached the stables they found that Blake had The Merry Widow ready in a head-collar and lunge-rein. The Major led her out to a small paddock on the west side of the house and started to lunge her, first of all at the walk. He pointed out the way in which he held the rein and whip, and said that of course they mustn’t expect their ponies to go as well at first, as The Widow had been broken in six weeks and knew all about it. When he had lunged The Merry Widow at the walk, trot and canter to either hand, Major Holbrooke asked if any one would like a try. “Me,” said everyone but Noel, who was keeping well out of sight.
The Major handed the lunge-rein and whip to Evelyn, who had spoken most loudly. While she had been watching, Evelyn had thought lungeing looked easy, and as she knew she was a very capable person, she had expected to be able to do it straight away, but, to her chagrin, The Merry Widow, who had behaved perfectly with the Major, refused to walk round at all. After she had tried for a few minutes,with very little success, Major Holbrooke pointed out that she was standing absolutely still in the centre and expecting the horse to walk round her, while she should move round with the horse, though on a very much smaller circle and slightly behind her, with the whip out, ready to send her on if she should try to stop or turn, in exactly the same way as one used one’s legs when riding.
When Evelyn got the idea of this she managed the Widow much better, and when she had made her walk and trot round to either hand several times, the Major said it was someone else’s turn, and Richard took the rein. He was quite good, but he would show off and try to crack the whip. Susan, who had the next turn, tangled the lunge-rein round her legs and was nearly pulled over; but apart from this she controlled The Merry Widow well, as did Hilary. When Hilary had had her turn, the Major said The Widow had done enough, and he sent John for Black Magic. She was more difficult to lunge, for not only had she a more excitable temperament, but she had barely been broken in a month. In spite of this, both John and June managed her well. Then, since she didn’t come forward, Major Holbrooke asked Noel if she didn’t
“Can I have the black?” asked John. As no one else wanted her, he was settled. Hilary asked for and was given the chestnut, and then, as Susan still hadn’t decided which pony she wanted, the Major made three lots, and June drew the longest, so, to Evelyn’s intense disgust, she chose the grey. Then Susan, Richard and Evelyn drew for the three remaining ponies. Richard, who got the longest lot, had the bay gelding, which was the tallest pony; Susan, who got the middling lot, had the bay mare; while Evelyn, who had the shortest lot, had the smallest pony, which was the skewbald. She was very cross, but Margaret was delighted,and whispered to James that they would be able to have a circus.
“Thank goodness, that’s settled,” said the Major. “I only hope everyone knows which pony they’ve got, for I certainly don’t. And now,” he went on, “if you will all come back to the stables, I want to show you a few things about lungeing on one of my youngsters.”
As they walked back across the fields, Major Holbrooke explained about lungeing. He said he expected they had all seen it done, but, for the benefit of any one who hadn’t, it was simply making a horse walk, trot and canter on a long webbing rein fixed to his head-collar and held by the trainer who, by standing more or less in the same place, causes the horse to go round in a continuous circle. Lungeing was, he said, an excellent thing for the young horse, as it balanced and suppled him, thus improving his head-carriage and making him stride out properly, besides teaching him the words of command, which were so important when you first started to ride him.
When they reached the stables they found that Blake had The Merry Widow ready in a head-collar and lunge-rein. The Major led her out to a small paddock on the west side of the house and started to lunge her, first of all at the walk. He pointed out the way in which he held the rein and whip, and said that of course they mustn’t expect their ponies to go as well at first, as The Widow had been broken in six weeks and knew all about it. When he had lunged The Merry Widow at the walk, trot and canter to either hand, Major Holbrooke asked if any one would like a try. “Me,” said everyone but Noel, who was keeping well out of sight.
The Major handed the lunge-rein and whip to Evelyn, who had spoken most loudly. While she had been watching, Evelyn had thought lungeing looked easy, and as she knew she was a very capable person, she had expected to be able to do it straight away, but, to her chagrin, The Merry Widow, who had behaved perfectly with the Major, refused to walk round at all. After she had tried for a few minutes,with very little success, Major Holbrooke pointed out that she was standing absolutely still in the centre and expecting the horse to walk round her, while she should move round with the horse, though on a very much smaller circle and slightly behind her, with the whip out, ready to send her on if she should try to stop or turn, in exactly the same way as one used one’s legs when riding.
When Evelyn got the idea of this she managed the Widow much better, and when she had made her walk and trot round to either hand several times, the Major said it was someone else’s turn, and Richard took the rein. He was quite good, but he would show off and try to crack the whip. Susan, who had the next turn, tangled the lunge-rein round her legs and was nearly pulled over; but apart from this she controlled The Merry Widow well, as did Hilary. When Hilary had had her turn, the Major said The Widow had done enough, and he sent John for Black Magic. She was more difficult to lunge, for not only had she a more excitable temperament, but she had barely been broken in a month. In spite of this, both John and June managed her well. Then, since she didn’t come forward, Major Holbrooke asked Noel if she didn’t
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