CLEARING A FENCE. 



153 



is due to their being suddenly straightened out, in 

 which action, the fetlock joint also plays an important 

 part. 



As the ability to clear height depends greatly on the 

 power of raising the fore-hand ; the rider should refrain 

 from leaning forward when the horse is rising at an 

 obstacle. He should, on the contrary, lean more or less 



I'lioto by] [C. H. Harris, Waipukukau, N.Z. 



Fig. 246. — New Zealand Mare, Javlina, jumping wire, and ridden by Mr. A. M. Harmer. 



back at this moment (Fig. 224), so as not to put any avoid- 

 able weight on the fore-hand. 



In almost all cases of the well-executed high jump, 

 the fore legs are bent up together and the hind ones 

 fully straightened out at the moment of taking off (Fig. 

 243"). The fore legs will be kept more or less in this 

 position till the fence is cleared. If the obstacle is 

 " stiff " and the horse hits it with his knee or fore-arm, 

 he will probably fall ; but if any part of the leg below the 

 knee strikes it, he will generally get over all right, or with 



