Page:Dapples of the Circus (1943).pdf/59

 led him about the yard, turning, him this way and that until he had learned to mind the bit.

Next, he very carefully put the pad on the small horse, taking care to remove the breeching. Dapples did not mind that as much as he had the bit, not even when it was buckled tight around his middle. After he had become used to the pad, Jerry put on the breeching. Dapples kicked twice at this strange thing that flapped about his hind quarters, but Jerry assured him that it would not bite him, and he soon understood that it was a part of the game.

Jerry did not hitch him into a cart for several days, not until he had broken him to the saddle arid allowed the children to ride about the yard while he led the pony for them. But finally Dapples was hitched into a fine new shiny phaeton, and his real life's work began. But Jerry did not trust the children with him until he had driven him several days under all sorts