LANDING OVER A JUMP. 



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on to the other ; as their great object is to lose no time 

 in getting away from their fences, which, being compara- 

 tively low, do not greatly affect the athlete's stability. 



We may see from the foregoing considerations, that 

 for safety and quickness in " getting away " after a leap, 

 it is essential for the fore legs to be removed out of the 

 way of the hind feet, and for the fore-hand, which was 

 previously depressed by the weight of the body falling 

 on it (as in Fig. 238), to be raised by the straightening 

 of the fore legs (Figs. 239 to 242). These two actions 



Fig. 256.— Mr. G. R. Gamier winning 120 yards hurdle race. 



have of course to be performed with speed and precision. 

 Hence, it is necessary for the horse to see where he is 

 going to place his feet on landing ; so that he may be 

 prepared for the required movements of the Hmbs. If 

 he be prevented from knowing when his feet will come 

 down on the ground, there will be loss of time in calling 

 the muscles of the limbs into action, and the probabihty 

 of an accident will be greatly increased. A common 

 way some inexpert riders have of making a horse, when 



II 



