How to Sit a Jump. 151 



first-flight men in this controversy, when they 

 call single-hand jumping a hateful practice, and 

 ascribe to it half the bad habits of the hunter and 

 the crooked seats of the rider, I am satisfied to 

 look at the portraits of such wonderful equestri- 

 ans as Captain Percy Williams, or Tom Clarke, 

 huntsman of the Old Berkshire, and a dozen oth- 

 ers that could be instanced, all using the bridle 

 hand alone, and some of them even forgetting 

 that it is " bad form " to let the right elbow leave 

 the side. Bad form, forsooth! These portraits 

 would scarcely have been thus painted if the habit 

 had met the disapproval of the celebrated horse- 

 men in question. 



So far as you are concerned, Tom, you will 

 learn while Penelope is learning. Use your snaffle 

 bit alone. A man needs light hands to jump with 

 a curb, or else his horse must have a leather 

 mouth. Whenever Nelly has made up her mind 

 to jump, let her have her head. Don't try to tell 

 her when to take off. Leave that to her, and 

 don't flurry her while she is making up her mind 

 when and where to do it. Leave that to the very 

 experienced rider. If she is jumping from a 

 stand, or slow trot, you can say a word of encour- 

 agement to her, but by no means do so at a gal- 

 lop, when within a stride or two of the jump. Be 

 ready, however, to draw rein sufficient to give her 

 some support as soon as she has landed. 



