252 JUMPING. 



yards in diameter, and gradually raised until he could 

 easily clear five and a half feet without touching the timber. 

 I would suggest the use of a walled-in circle ; as in it the 

 breaker could more easily control the movements of the 

 loose horse with the lunging whip than if he were in a 

 rectangular enclosure. The whip should be employed to 

 indicate to the animal what he has got to do, or at most to 

 stimulate him ; but in no way to punish him. The horse 

 intended for show- jumping should have a good deal of 

 practice at water ; for the judges always attach much 

 importance to the way in which the competitors negotiate 

 the "brook." 



TIME REQUIRED TO TEACH A HORSE TO JUMP. 



An ordinary horse in good condition and of suitable 

 conformation can be taught in one or two lessons of three- 

 quarters of an hour's duration, to carry his rider over, say, 

 a three foot six hurdle or hedge, or a six foot ditch, in fair 

 style. But the teaching a horse to measure his distance 

 and to shorten or lengthen his stride, as may be required, 

 on coming up to a fence, is much more difficult ; for horses 

 greatly vary in " cleverness." Although a month will be 

 sufficient to make some apt pupils perfect, other animals 

 seem incapable of learning to keep their feet out of harm's 

 way. Long experience has proved to me that if a horse 

 is sound on his feet and legs, we run no risk of spoiling 

 his temper by jumping him over ten or a dozen fences 

 every day, or that number of times over the same obstacles ; 

 provided always that we don't pull his mouth about, and 

 that we don't irritate him with whip or spur. A horse 

 requires frequent practice to learn to jump ; and, after he 

 has acquired that accomplishment, to keep his muscles in 

 jumping order. 



