TEACHING A HORSE TO JUMP 163 



box or something the same height of the block. (The 

 building will serve as a guide on the one side.) After 

 you have taught the horse the confidence lesson and 

 taught him to follow you on the run, you may turn him 

 loose in the enclosure, where you have previously arranged 

 the railing, and have the horse follow you on the run. 

 Now start toward the railing and run and jump over it. 

 Just as you jump and the horse is ready to make the 

 leap, say " Jump ! " In most cases he will follow you, 

 taking the jump easily. If he fails to do so, or persists 

 in going around the railing, use the Indian war bridle 

 with the lead line spliced so that it is at least fifteen 

 feet long. Now a little admonition with the bridle will 

 cause him to make the jump. As soon as he gets the 

 idea that you want him to jump, you can remove the 

 bridle and have him jump at command. The height 

 of the railing can be changed as the horse becomes ac- 

 customed to it, but I would advise that it be left at the 

 original height until after the horse jumps over it easily 

 and without the least effort. One of the things that 

 you must remember in teaching any trick is always to 

 take your horse to the same place each time, until he 

 has learned the trick perfectly. As soon as he has the 

 idea of jumping well fixed in his mind, mount him with 

 the saddle and proceed to develop him by very gradually 



