156 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



be taken that the strap is properly fitted. If 

 too tight, the man's knee is brought away from 

 the saddle and its purpose is defeated. If too loose, 

 it of course does not come into play as soon as it 

 might and there is a danger of the horse getting his 

 hind-legs through it when jumping. 



This contrivance should not be used after the 

 initial stages of jumping. If the fence is big the 

 animal is more liable to fall, when the pupil may 

 share the fate which sometimes befalls the accom- 

 plished horseman and get mixed up with his horse 

 on the ground. 



It is incidentally worth noting that the strap is 

 useful to anyone who has the misfortune to have 

 to ride a bad buck- jumper, and I have been informed 

 that it is not unknown to the cowboy. In our 

 Colonies a rope is sometimes placed round the 

 saddle and made fast over the rider's thighs in 

 order to secure his seat. 



Jumping 



" I told him, If you will but Sit Still, I warrant you the Horse will 

 go Well with you, But a Man (said he, with a great Oath) cannot Sit 

 Still. Which was said Knowingly, and like a Horse-Matt ; for, to 

 Sit Still belongs only to a Great Master'' Newcastle, 



" Do not be sure that you have a firm seat until you have tried the 

 experiment of sitting a leap with nothing to hold on by." 



Whyte Melville. 



Jumping without reins for the comparative begin- 



