HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 



107 



but the bar in the school is a very good thing to begin with. 

 The first lesson in jumping should be given dismounted, on 

 the cavesson, it being only fair that the horse should get accus- 

 tomed to jump over an obstacle by himself before he is asked 

 to do it with a man on his back. His head should be quite 

 free ; in fact, the bridle may be taken off altogether at first. 

 The bar should be laid on the ground, and the horse be walked 





u\- 



Over an obstacle by himself. 



a few times quietly over it; he may prefer, although he can 

 perfectly well step over, to jump it, and if he does, so much 

 the better. If the horse appears to be shy of it, a little coaxing 

 will be found to be the surest way of overcoming the shyness. 

 Above everything, keep the whip away ; a short time spent in 

 talking to him and coaxing him will pay infinitely better than 

 abusing him. When he leads quietly over the bar on the 

 ground, it may be put up into the first hole, which should only 



