The first player in the standing team runs, places both hands on the back of one of the players bent over and jumps on top. Each succeeding player does the same until all players are astride the bent-over team. If any player sitting astride touches the ground in any way the other team stands and takes their turn. If all players of the second team succeed in staying astride without touching the ground they then call out in unison “Johnny on the pony, one, two, three” and simultaneously bounce up and down. If any of them slip off while doing this, or touch the ground, the other team goes. If anyone on the bent-over team buckles or caves in the first team goes again.
