68 HORSE-MASTERSHIP 



should be most careful not to get on the far 

 side of the horse from the trainer, as by so 

 doing he would probably cause the animal to 

 swerve on to the man who is leading him. 

 If much difficulty is experienced in leading 

 the horse up to the fence, a snaffle bridle can 

 be used for this purpose, the cavesson being 

 put on over the head-collar. From the be- 

 ginning the horse must be trained to jump 

 everything quietly from his hocks ; almost 

 every sized obstacle can be got over in this 

 manner by a riderless horse. Later on, when 

 the horse jumps freely, and you want to 

 smarten him up a bit, you can run in with 

 him to the fence for the last few yards, and 

 teach him to jump from a trot and a gallop. 



The moment the horse jumps the rein 

 should be allowed to run out of the dis- 

 engaged hand, and the horse should have 

 perfect freedom while jumping and until well 

 into the next field. Very soon he will not 

 require pulling up at all on landing, but will 

 stop of his own accord and graze. Some 

 horses have a trick of swerving on to the 

 man who is leading them at the moment 

 they should take off; for this reason the 

 trainer should carry in the leading hand a 

 light switch, and if the horse tries to swerve 

 towards him tap him smartly on the muzzle. 

 One or two taps will soon prevent this trick, 

 and if the horse tries to swerve in future it 



