148 



LEAPING. 



gallop, we may regard the putting down of the leading 

 fore leg (Fig. 229) as the commencement of the take off ; 

 for, at that instant, the character of the pace is changed, 

 and the " take off " by the hind legs is made close to the 

 foot-print of that leg. We therefore see that during 

 the stride of, say, from four to seven yards in length, 



I'hutu hij] 



, Fig. 243.— Taking Off. 



[K. E. Han, Czakski selo. 



there is only one moment at which the " take off " can 

 be executed. Hence, if a horse does not regulate the 

 length of his stride when coming up to a fence, he may 

 easily make a mistake. Let us suppose that, while taking 

 a stride of five yards, he brings down his leading fore 

 leg three yards short of the proper spot at which he 

 ought to take off ; he will then have to jump three yards 

 " bigger," or chance an accident by taking off two yards 



