Haven't read Attic Term, so basing it purely on Peter's Room, and Laurie's disgust at the hire pony's actions - at least as I read it - show no empathy for the hire pony.
On the other hand, the man at the stables appears bang on - the pony has learned to fake due to being over-ridden at such events and the fact that they didn't tell her about it or suggest that a good whacking would solve its problems suggest that the pony is quite right in its attitude. And I've never yet got on a lazy hired horse without being warned I'm on a slug and a ham artist - the only time a stables has withheld information from me, they thought it amusing not to tell me I was on the yard's inveterate racer.
Even if that hunt only meets twice a week and assuming that pony follows it regularly (which is the implication I get from the stables hiring it out), it's more than I'd expect one animal to be able to cope with in a season. If you're going to hunt twice a week, you nearly always need more than one horse.
no subject
On the other hand, the man at the stables appears bang on - the pony has learned to fake due to being over-ridden at such events and the fact that they didn't tell her about it or suggest that a good whacking would solve its problems suggest that the pony is quite right in its attitude. And I've never yet got on a lazy hired horse without being warned I'm on a slug and a ham artist - the only time a stables has withheld information from me, they thought it amusing not to tell me I was on the yard's inveterate racer.
Even if that hunt only meets twice a week and assuming that pony follows it regularly (which is the implication I get from the stables hiring it out), it's more than I'd expect one animal to be able to cope with in a season. If you're going to hunt twice a week, you nearly always need more than one horse.