I had a full sized ride on a pony a fat black pony

TCD MS 11274/86 folio 1 recto

TCD MS 11274/86 folio 1 recto

22nd Dec. [? 1918 ]
My dearie, One rather good letter from you today about Noll & the Puff Puff on the road, you tell these things better than a book written by a great scholar. I can always see the whole of it and what is passing in his mind which you read so easily. I am glad you even had that wee bit ride on K Ferries horse I had a full sized ride on a pony a fat black pony without any shape at all but a neck tie like a bear. It was a glorious day but not by any means what you would call a glorious ride though I enjoyed it extremely. It was a very mild ride the aim was instructional to teach Brian who had only been on a horse once he trotted very fast it must have been agonizing to him as when I got on his brown pony afterwards I found that he was quite a handful to pull up once he started and I could see that Brians center-of-gravity was a in a position of unstable equilibrium. A sergeant of the 60 ?pds whose horses they were came out with us on a tall high-handed contemptuous charger. He said to Brian look at the way the Capt. rides. Nobody has ever said that before, as a matter of fact I felt nearer proper control than ever before but of course the bear pony was very easy to manoeuvre as you didnt have to pull him to turn or anything like that but just indicate with your calf which way to turn or put a rein gently against his neck & he did it.
So that it isnt fair at all dearie that I should have practically an