250 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



equilibrium. Or she may meet some obstruction 

 on the road, as the trunk of a tree felled by a 

 storm ; when, instead of being compelled to re- 

 turn home without finishing her ride, she can 

 leap over the obstacle. Again, should she at 

 any time be in great haste to reach her destina- 

 tion she may, by leaping some low gap in a 

 fence, or some small stream, be able to take one 

 or more short cuts, and thus greatly lessen the 

 distance she would have had to ride on the 

 road. 



Leaping is by no means difficult to learn. 

 With an English saddle, the third pommel will 

 prevent the rider from being shaken off by the 

 violence of the motion, and will thus make leap- 

 ing entirely safe for a lady provided the horse 

 be well-trained and sure-footed. Before ven- 

 turing upon a leap, three requisites are nec- 

 essary : first, the horse must be a good and 

 fearless leaper; second, the rider must have 

 confidence in herself and steed, because any 

 nervousness on her part will be apt to cause the 

 animal to leap awkwardly ; and third, she must 

 always be sure of the condition of the ground 

 on the opposite side of the object over which 

 the leap is to be made it must neither slope 

 abruptly down, nor present any thorny bushes, 

 nor be so soft and soggy that the horse will be 



