XXI. 



HOW YOUNG HORSES ARE TAUGHT TO JUMP. 



Jumping I/If hen at Liberty. Young horses may be taught to 

 jump when at hberty or on the longe. 



Jumping at hberty is ordinarily practised in a straight 

 chute, in which are placed several obstacles — at least one 

 ditch and one bar. The horse is led quietly to one end of 

 the chute and caught at the other end by men who stop him 

 without frightening him and then offer him oats as a reward. 

 Near each obstacle is stationed a man with a longeing whip 

 ready to urge horses that hold back and hesitate; but the 

 use of the whip should not be abused as it bewilders the 

 animals and after a few lessons is ordinarily no . longer re- 

 quired. 



Jumping at liberty produces horses keen and straight 

 on their jumps. The drawback is that the animals jump 

 too quickly and acquire only a certain amount of skill; for, 

 instead of observing the obstacles that they are taking, they 

 have only one idea and that is to get out of the chute. The 

 system is especially suitable to train horses for steeplechas- 

 ing. 



If the jumps in the chute are high, it will be better not 

 to send young horses through until after they have had sev- 

 eral preliminary lessons on the longe. 



Jumping on the Longe. Jumping on the longe is a perfect 

 lesson to train a horse for obstacles. Drilled by this 

 method, the horse is cool and clever and forms the habit of 

 observing the obstacle. It is the best system for service 

 mounts and hunters. 



This lesson may be given in the hall or in the open and 

 in the following manner: 



High Jumps. Place a bar on the ground. Holding the 

 longe in one hand and the snaffle reins in the other, lead 



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