JUMPING. 



201 



forward by the propulsion given by the horse ; second, to 

 hghten the forehand, which, on coming to the ground, will 

 have to bear all the weight of both horse and rider ; and, 

 third, to keep his seat and support his horse in case the 

 animal's forelegs give way. 



When a horse brushes a fence with his forelegs, and raises 



Fig. 48. — Horse raising his croup when clearing a fence. 



his croup as if he were kicking,* we should carry the body 

 back the moment'the forehand is raised as high as the fence, 

 so as to avoid putting weight on the forehand. When the 

 fence has been cleared, the body will be put back in its place 

 by the force of propulsion. 



I cannot too strongly impress on my readers that in all the 



* See Fig. 48 : — If the reins were drawn tighter, this illustration would serve 

 equally well to show the position of a rider who is about to receive his horse 

 after a jump. 



