JUMPING. 



199 



rider. This is not quite true, because it is evident that the 

 animal cannot know what is in the mind of the man on his 

 back ; but he can feel that the " aids," like the will of the 

 rider, are hesitating. 



To make the horse resolute we should, in the first instance, 

 be resolute ourselves. If our pluck gives way, our " aids " will 

 be vacillating ; but if we harden our heart, we will transmit 



Fig. 46. — Clearing a fence. 



confidence to the horse by means of the " aids," which, in 

 this case, should act with vigour and precision. 



The rider who goes up to a fence for the first time, usually 

 imagines that he will receive a terrible shock. As a rule, he 

 instinctively stiffens himself so as not to be displaced, and 

 when he falls off, the accident is generally due to this 

 stiffness. 



As I have already said, we should give with the hands at 



