66 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



long, so that it can be allowed to run through 

 the trainer's hands when the horse jumps, 

 and so avoid pulling up the animal short 

 immediately it lands. The rein must be 

 fastened to the cavesson, and on no account 

 on to the bit, as any unintentional jerk on 

 the rein would hurt the horse's mouth if 

 fastened to the bit, and make the horse shy 

 of jumping in future. As a matter of fact, 

 few horses require anything in the mouth at 

 all when schooled in the single-rein method ; 

 but it is sometimes better to have a head- 

 collar under the cavesson, with a plain snaffle 

 in the mouth, if the animal is very excitable ; 

 the reins on the snaffle are knotted up on 

 the neck, and not touched unless absolutely 

 necessary. Though I hate bandages for 

 hunters as a rule, I always school with ban- 

 dages on the fore-legs, and sometimes all 

 round ; young untrained horses sometimes 

 knock themselves about terribly at first if 

 not bandaged. 



Now, having got your horse ready for 

 schooling, it only remains to choose your 

 country and begin. The education should 

 be very gradual, and a young horse should 

 never be asked to jump anything which he is 

 frightened of or doubtful about until he has 

 grasped the idea that when he is presented 

 at a fence he is to jump it, and that it is 

 also possible and safe for him to do so. If 



