THE LEAP. 267 



leaping speedily becomes as easy of performance 

 as any other motion." 



Horses leap in different ways ; the best leap- 

 ers being those which just glide over the object 

 without touching it, they appear to measure 

 the height required for the leap, and, whether 

 the object be high or low, they skim close to it. 

 Such animals can be trusted, and may be al- 

 lowed to leap without urging or hurrying them, 

 for they require very little assistance from their 

 riders, and do better when left to themselves. 

 Other horses exaggerate the leap and rise higher 

 than is required ; they make a very fine appear- 

 ance when leaping, but are apt to light too close 

 to the opposite side of the bar or obstacle, be- 

 cause they expend all their energies on height 

 instead of width. The worst leapers are those 

 which, instead of clearing the bar at a single 

 bound, make two bounds, as it were, in passing 

 over it : the fore-part of the horse having passed 

 over, the body will seem to be resting for an ap- 

 preciable time upon the fore-legs. 



The flying leap can be taken, without stop- 

 ping, from any gait that is more rapid than a 

 walk, though commonly taken from the gallop. 

 It is a very easy leap, being little more than an 

 extended gallop. The rider takes the same firm, 

 central position upon the saddle as has been de- 



