158 



THE HORSE 



very indifferent performer could extricate himself with ease. For high 

 jumps a certain amount of impetus is necessary, for, as Captain Hayes 

 points out, the horse " has a long distance to carry over a fence (that from 

 his hocks or buttocks to his muzzle) independently of raising it to a suffi- 

 cient height : hence his high jump partakes more of the long jump than 

 the high jump of a man, whose body is carried more vertically than 

 horizontally." 



The speed and impetus obtained will therefore determine the width he 

 can clear, provided, of course, that the pace is not such as to preclude him 

 from collecting himself at the moment prior to taking off. It is not a fact 

 that speed helps a horse in a high jump, as greater weight is thrown on the 

 fore-hand at a fast pace, and the difficulty of raising the fore-hand by the 



leading leg is increased, Experience has of course taught hunting-men to 

 ride slowly at stiff fences. The horse ridden fast at timber takes off sooner 

 than he would otherwise do, but compensation is not wholly assured to him 

 in this manner. 



By raising the head and bringing back the centre of gravity the angle 

 of elevation is increased, and the nearer the hind-feet are brought forward 

 to the leading foot(print) the greater the angle at which his body can be 

 projected forward. When commencing the leap hind-legs are straightened 

 to a great extent and the fore-hand raised, a position in which the weight 

 of the rider must necessarily affect the animal's capacity to rise. Captain 

 Hayes, speaking for the horse, says " The rider should refrain from leaning 

 forward when a horse is rising at an obstacle. He should, on the contrary 

 if anything, lean back at the moment so as not to put any avoidable weight 

 on the fore-hand." 



Mr. E. L. Anderson, speaking for the rider, gives the following direc- 

 tions : " As the horse rises for the leap the rider will lean forward, yielding 

 the hand at the same time, so that there shall be no tension upon the 

 reins." This seeming contradiction is quite reconcilable when viewed from 



