REFUSING. 449 



REFUSING. 



To jump or not to jump, that is the question with 

 which determined refusers have " stumped " some of 

 the very best cross country riders. I am reminded of 

 an instance which occurred in India, when a fine 

 horsewoman, seeing a friend unable to make his 

 mount jump in a paper-chase, which is nearly akin to 

 a steeple-chase, rode him herself in the next one, with 

 no better result, and great must have been her morti- 

 fication on finding herself left on the wrong side of the 

 first fence which the determined brute refused to look 

 at, even when carrying this charming lady, to whom 

 many equine bad characters had yielded obedience. 

 This appeared to be a sheer case of equine temper 

 and obstinacy ; for the animal could jump well when 

 he liked, but the man or woman has yet to be born 

 who can make a horse jump when he has decided not 

 to do so. I have a very strong belief that refusers 

 are made, not born, for every unbroken horse which 

 my husband had to deal with in his travels, tried his 

 best to give satisfaction by making an effort, even if 

 an unscientific one, to clear the obstacle, generally a 

 heavy log of wood propped up on boxes, which was 

 offered for his consideration. If he jumped well, and 

 in the flippant style of a natural fencer, more boxes 

 were produced, and sometimes these youngsters 

 cleared quite a respectable height in one " lepping " 

 lesson with me on their backs, and my husband at 



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