LEAPING OR JUMPING 157 



THE PACES OF THE MANEGE 



IN THE MILITARY SCHOOLS OF RIDING a variety of paces are taught even 

 in the present day, but the old riding-masters adopted many more, which 

 are now discontinued. Some of them are intended to enable the soldier 

 to use his sword or spear with double advantage, as the volte and semi- 

 volte, but the majority of those still retained are for the purpose of 

 carrying out the combined evolutions necessary to cavalry. The " passage," 

 for instance, is a side movement, that enables a number of horses to be 

 changed from close to open order, which would be a difficult task to per- 

 form with horses not taught to perform it. Backing is likewise necessary 

 for similar purposes ; but this should always be taught to every horse, 

 whether used by the military or by civilians. A minute description, 

 however, of the several paces of the manege would occupy too much 

 space here, and is only useful to the cavalry soldier, who will learn their 

 nature much better from practical instruction by the riding-master of his 

 regiment. 



LEAPING OR JUMPING 



IN THE CANTER OR GALLOP the first period of suspension occurs when 

 the leading fore-leg is raised, but in the leap it takes place at the moment 

 when the hind-legs leave the ground. 



THE TAKE-OFF. The horse which walks up to a fence and takes it stand- 

 ing, does so by rearing on his hind-supports and projecting himself in an 

 upward and forward direction. 



If trotting or ambling he takes off from either fore-leg (the most con- 

 venient), bringing the hind ones under the body. 



In the canter or gallop the take-off commences with placing the leading 

 fore-foot down, changing the pace on the instant, and planting the hind-feet 

 well under the body. This may be easily seen by the footprints in soft 

 ground, the hind ones (making a different impression) being found close to 

 that made by the leading fore. 



Cleverness in jumping, which is partly hereditary and partly the result 

 of training, is largely due to an ability to calculate distance in such a 

 manner that during the last 15 to 25 feet before the obstacle is reached 

 the psychological moment shall be chosen for the take-off. Failing this 

 nice estimate the animal will take off short or be compelled to jump " too 

 big," and with the result of landing into instead of over the object, or of 

 unseating the indifferent horseman who is not prepared for the rise. A 

 long-striding horse is more liable to make this mistake than others, 

 while one who " creeps '' up to his fences is generally esteemed in a 

 cramped or " blind " country. The flying jumper is all very well for hurdle 

 races or a made course, but the animal which can regulate his stride is the 

 more valuable as a safe conveyance over a country. 



Since there is only one period of the canter or stride at which a horse 

 can take off for the jump, it is well that he should be able to do so from 

 other paces, or he will be " pounded " in a narrow lane, out of which some 



