64 RIDING OVER FENCES. 



the reins loose. As horses vary so much, it would be 

 useless for me to lay down any rules about steadying 

 them, or riding them at their fences, except in the most 

 general terms. Clever jumpers, as a rule, fence best 

 when the rider lets them have their head, and make their 

 effort without either rousing or restraining. Many horses, 

 however, are so shifty and uncertain that they need all 

 the assistance they can get. Those of us who have gone 

 in for pedestrianism, must have sometimes felt, when 

 running up to a jump, that the steps we were taking 

 would not give us the proper take off, and that it 

 was necessary for us, in order to obtain it, to lengthen 

 or shorten our stride. We may experience the same 

 feeling when riding a horse up to a fence ; while, if we 

 have had sufficient practice, and are possessed of the 

 requisite "nerve," we may find that we instinctively 

 make him extend or " collect " himself, so that he 

 may take off correctly. 



When the horse is going freely at a fence, the rider 

 should sit well down in the saddle, and should have 

 both hands on the reins, so as to prevent a refusal, or to 

 "pull the horse together," if required. He should avoid 

 the trick of raising one hand, as it is not alone "bad 

 form," but it also deprives the rider of its assistance at 



