MOUTHING FOR JUMPING. 187 



through the stirrup-irons and rings of the snaffle, 

 and are fixed on tightly to the girths and stirrup- 

 irons, on their respective sides (see Fig. 45). 

 This excellent authority on the art of training 

 horses to safely negotiate the difficult lines of 

 country met with in Ireland, tells me that he has 

 found this method of great use for teaching 

 horses to " gather themselves together" in proper 

 style, when coming up to the big banks and 

 ditches that may be seen to perfection in the 

 counties of Kildare and Tipperary. For reasons 

 which I have fully explained in this book, I would 

 advise that the horse should, at first, be thoroughly 

 taught to obey the indications of the rein in the 

 manner I have described. After that, Colonel 

 Wardrop's plan might be useful for giving the 

 horse a few practical lessons over the obstacles 

 in question. 



