152 LEAPING. 



of the hunting field and steeplechase course, we may 

 accept the truth of the old saying that we should ride 

 slow at " timber." Also, I am inclined to think that a 

 horse will not clear as great a width when taking a water 

 jump, if he is sent at his topmost speed at it, as he would 

 do, were his rate of going slightly moderated, so as to 

 enable him to raise his fore - hand sufficiently off the 

 ground, in order to obtain the angle of projection which 

 will enable him to cover the maximum distance. 



Clearing a Fence. — It is evident that the more a 

 horse, in the leap, brings his hind feet forward as com- 

 pared to the position of the prints of the fore feet, the 

 greater will be the angle at which he can, at the speed 

 he is going, project his body upward. Also, the more 

 he raises his head, the more will he, by bringing back 

 the centre of gravity, increase its angle of projection. 

 Besides, as the forward and upward movements of the 

 fore limbs depend on the action of the muscles of the 

 neck, the direction in which the fore legs will be raised, 

 will naturally depend on that of the neck. A horse, 

 therefore, when approaching a fence which will tax his 

 powers to clear, should regulate his speed, so that the 

 impetus obtained from it may be in due proportion to 

 the propulsion derived from the limbs ; should bring his 

 hind feet well under his body ; and should hold his head 

 high. I am here supposing that the animal takes off at 

 the correct distance from the obstacle. These actions 

 constitute, as regards the horse, what is popularly and 

 somewhat vaguely called " collecting " himself. 



We may note that although, when preparing to leap, 

 the hind legs are brought down on the ground in a 

 straightened-out position (Fig. 231), and leave it in the 

 same attitude (Fig. 234) ; they are somewhat bent at the 

 hocks and stifles (Fig. 233) at a time intermediate to 

 these two moments. Hence, we see from these drawings 

 that the propulsion from the hind legs in the leap 



