JUMPING. 197 



outside, we should let out the lunging rein, and at the moment 

 the animal is taking off, we should make him carry his 

 shoulders to the right, by threatening him with the whip under 

 the muzzle. 



The bar should be kept very low for this work, and should 

 be raised only little by little, according to the strength and 

 cleverness of the horse. 



We should take great care never to raise the bar so high 

 as to require the animal to make a great effort to clear it, 

 especially if he is young. Although this would not be so bad 

 with old horses, we should do all we can not to discourage 

 them. 



As soon as the horse jumps freely with the lunge, he can be 

 mounted, and made to follow the same programme, while 

 beginning with the bar on the ground. 



At first, we should not trouble about the animal's style of 

 jumping, but should let him fence in his own way, and should 

 study it. 



In leaping, as in every other exercise which demands great 

 energy on the part of the horse, the rider should take account 

 of the natural capabilities of his mount, and should adapt 

 himself to them. If they require to be set right, he should 

 gradually do it later on. 



I have said that the hands should make no effort to raise 

 the horse when taking off. I repeat that the head and neck 

 should be perfectly free, but I do not say that the reins should 

 be let go ; because the horse, when he is jumping, ought to 

 maintain on the hands a light bearing,* which he does not take 

 at the moment of raising himself, because he has had it when 

 coming up to the fence ; in fact, he merely preserves it. The 

 elasticity of the hands and even of the arms of the rider 

 allows him to keep up this bearing on the bit, without 



* It is an absolute rule in riding that the hands ought always to remain in com- 

 munication with the mouth. 



