256 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



seated, as heretofore explained, will naturally 

 assume a sufficient inclination forward without 

 any effort on her part. While in this position 

 she must not carry her shoulders forward, but 

 must keep them well back, with the waist well 

 curved in as when sitting erect. It should 

 never be forgotten that in the rise during the 

 leap, just previous to the spring, no efforts 

 whatever must be made by the rider to support 

 the horse, or to lift him, but instead, she should 

 simply hold the reins so lightly that his mouth 

 can just be felt, which is called " giving a free 

 rein." If the reins be allowed to hang too 

 loosely they may catch upon some object not 

 noticed by the rider, and not only be wrenched 

 from her hands, but also give the horse's mouth 

 a severe jerk, or perhaps throw him upon the 

 ground. Too loose a rein would, moreover, be 

 apt to make it impossible for her to give timely 

 support to the animal as his fore-feet touched 

 the ground. The leap, it must be borne in 

 mind, is effected very quickly. (Fig. 33.) 



As the horse springs from his hind-legs to 

 make the leap, the rider must advance her 

 arms, with her hands held as low as possible 

 so as to give him a sufficiently free rein to en- 

 able him to extend himself ; this position of the 

 arms will also prevent the reins from being for- 



