SCHOOLING. 



297 



him lift up his legs, may be got over when he is out at exer- 

 cise ; and as soon as it is thought advisable to begin regular 

 work, he should be taken to a ground upon which a few minia- 

 ture fences, something after the fashion of those which the 

 learner will find later on when engaged in his profession, have 

 been erected. The fence may be a sloped hurdle, under 

 eighteen inches high, with some gorse at the top, or a little 

 brushwood, and it may have a piece of wood placed on the 



' Dwelling ' and 

 ' Getting well away. ' 



ground in front of it, after the fashion of the guard-rail common 

 to steeple-chase courses. 



The ordinary form of leaping-bar is bad, because it gives 

 when slightly tapped, and the horse will be apt to form the idea 

 that he may take liberties with his fences, a notion which cannot 

 be too soon expelled. His fences should be very low to begin 

 with, but he must understand that he has fairly to jump what 

 he is sent at. All fences, therefore, should be strongly made 

 up, so that he cannot run through them and 'chance it,' and 

 hurdles the same. These latter should have long wooden toes 



