200 EQUINE LOCOMOTION 



his fore -leg on the fetlock and mising his forehand; the corresponding 

 hind-leg (usually, but not always) is next brought down, and then the 

 other (whichever it may be), when, as stated above, he clears the obstacle 

 by straightening the hind-limbs and projecting himself upwards and for- 

 wards. There appears to be no suspension between the straightened lead- 

 ing fore-leo- supporting the animal and the bringing down of the first 

 hind-foot. 



In the standing leap the animal can only accomplish his purpose by 

 rearing, and he takes advantage of the ground to the utmost by breasting 

 the object or pushing right up to it before rising at it. Horses that can 

 leap from the standing position are often the most troublesome to keep in 

 bounds, while really good flying leapers can be kept at home by a low fence 

 round a cramped paddock. 



"Clever" jumpers, so-called, are those best able to judge of the time 

 and distance in which they will have to take-off, and who prepare them- 

 selves so as to have the leading leg ready to plant at a spot near enough to 

 and yet not too near the obstacle to be negotiated, since it will increase the 

 length of the jump if the horse takes-off too soon, while the height may 

 not be surmountable if too close, and the animal has to raise himself too 

 near to a perj^endicular line. 



Horses with a long stride are more liable to the mistake of taking-off 

 too "big" or jumping too soon than are short quick steppers, or those 

 which, measuring the distance with unerring eye, put in one short step to 

 correct the number of strides, which would else be too many or too few to 

 bring the jump to the right spot. 



The flying jumper is easier to sit, and though he seems rash he seldom 

 comes to grief; but he cannot get one out of a narrow lane like a horse that 

 "creeps" up to his jump and projects himself over without any residual 

 impetus when he lands. It may be taken as a broad rule that all horses 

 jump better from the canter or gallop, and that those able to jump nicely 

 from the trot are scarce and esteemed, because able to perform under 

 cramped conditions, where the flying leaper would be "pounded". The 

 horse that can jump from the trot has the additional advantage of being 

 able to choose from two diff'erent periods when he will take-off", these being 

 when either of the respective diagonals comes to the ground. 



The length of a horse being somewhere about 8 feet (the cavalry drill 

 makes an allowance of 8^ feet), there is considerable length to be carried, as 

 well as height to be surmounted, in getting over an obstacle by jumping. 

 With these points in view, the reader will see that it is necessary for a horse 

 to get a good spring or impetus by getting up a bit of speed some little 

 distance from the object to be negotiated. The greater the speed at which 



