LEAPING. 



Every one should learn to leap, as the practice gives the rider a secure 

 seat. When a horse leaps he throws the unprepared rider forward. The 

 object then is to resist or neutralize by his position in the saddle, the 

 impetus forward, created by the horse's bound. The horseman must sit 

 firmly iu^ the middle of the saddle, with the snaffle reins held in both hands, 

 and both hands held low over the horse's withers, and look straight between 

 his horse's ears. As the horse approaches the leap, he should bend his body 

 hduok, from the hips upivards, over the cantle of the saddle, while keeping 

 his "seat" firmly in its place by the grip of his legs and thighs. 



The degree of leaning back depends on the extent of the leap and the 

 action of the horse ; at a great down jump the best horsemen almost touch 

 the horse's croup. Some make the mistake of sitting back on the saddle and 

 thus exposing themselves to the action of the loin-muscles ; whereas it is 

 not their seat, but their shoulders, that should fall flexibly back and return 

 to the upright position when the horse is landed. 



According to military instructions " the body is to be inclined forward 

 as the horse rises, and backwards as he alights ; " but that is a feat which 

 only a long-practised horseman can accurately perform. The chances are 

 that the pupil who attempts it, if he does not get a black eye or bruised 

 nose from the horse's neck, will find himself jumped out of the saddle from 

 not having timed his change to the backward motion accurately. 



The reins should be held loose enough to give the horse power to fully 

 extend his neck. Many a rider has been pulled out of the saddle, at a leap, 

 by the extension of the horse's neck, and many times the horse refuses the 

 leap from being held hard by the reins when his mouth should be felt, not 

 resti-ained. 



