SCHOOLING. 299 



begins, as in the course of his unaccustomed exercise he would 

 not be unlikely to cut himself were he not protected, and this, 

 at the best, might stop his schooling for some time. 



The leader then sets off at a steady canter towards the first 

 fence, and clears it in his stride. After him comes the pupil, 

 who will, in all probability, when he sees what is before him, 

 prick up his ears and bound over with a spring big enough to 

 clear an ordinary gate. This is not what is wanted, but it is 

 well for a beginning. He has not refused, and his rider should 

 pat his neck as they canter on, talk to him encouragingly, and 

 show that he is pleased. 



Two or three of these little fences have been erected in a 

 line, with some hundred yards between, and when the pupil 

 comes to the next he will be apt to examine it ; but his leader 

 is ahead, and he will be anxious to follow. His rider, too, 

 should gently show him that he is to get over, and he will, 

 there is every reason to suppose, jump or blunder safely across 

 perhaps put one foot first and scramble. He will soon perceive 

 that there is nothing in a fence to create alarm. The ease with 

 which his leader glides over the obstacles will strike him, and 

 with a light hand on the reins and a cheery voice to commend 

 him, he will, if he has taken to it kindly, soon learn to think 

 nothing of these little jumps, to like the fun of crossing them, 

 indeed. 



The man is fortunate who finds his horse thus disposed ; 

 but the work may not have progressed so smoothly. It is 

 possible that the animal may make a fuss and show a disin- 

 clination to cross even these insignificant places, in which case 

 it is most necessary if possible to find out the reason. Perhaps 

 it is only nervousness, diffidence, want of self-reliance ; or it 

 may be obstinacy and bad temper. 1 In the former case the 

 rider must, before all else, be patient, gentle, and persuasive. If 

 this is for a long time without result, and yet there are reasons 



1 Congress, one of the most brilliant of chasers when once he had learnt the 

 way he should go, was actually pulled over his early jumps with cart-ropes, so 

 hard was it to persuade him to make an effort. 



