The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



from the smallest to the largest he can get 

 over or across without risk or refusal, is of 

 course the soundest way of teaching Disciple 

 to jump ; but it may be required to teach him 

 to negotiate the obstacles he would be faced 

 with at a local Show or at the Agricultural 

 Hall, Ishngton, such as hurdles, double hurdles, 

 gates, gorse fences, imitation walls and the like. 



Now, in such a case, you have to train the 

 horse or pony to jump with the special disad- 

 vantages that no ulterior object in the jump is 

 apparent to him ; that all the appliances are 

 artificial ; and that the jump itself, when 

 ultimately raised, is the highest part of the 

 barrier he sees before him — whereas the 

 natural tendency of a horse is to select the 

 lowest or easiest part of the obstacle. You 

 have, therefore, a much bigger task; and have 

 to rely more than ever for success upon Dis- 

 ciple's love of jumping for its own sake, and 

 the belief with which you have imbued him 

 that he is being allowed to jump as a treat 

 and reward. For these reasons it is all the 

 more necessary that you should proceed in 

 the smallest of small steps, and that he should 

 do everything of his own voUtion, and not be 

 driven to do it. 



The greatest treat you can give some horses 

 and ponies is to permit them to jump in hand, 

 that is, without a rider and on the leading 

 rein. In some cases, especially those of three and 



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