An Improved Method 163 



correctly placed as in Fig. 5 each time he is about 

 to ride at the fence. The importance of this precau- 

 tion cannot be exaggerated, and never seems to be 

 properly recognized by the pupil. The evils arising 

 from its neglect are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. 

 The position of the body is not quite forward 

 enough in Figs. 5 and 6, which are only intended to 

 illustrate the position of the arms. 



It will also be found that when he is jumping, the 

 novice's shoulders do not open, nor his hands drop 

 downwards and forwards as they should do when 

 the horse is descending. Experience has taught 

 me that the quickest and best way to put this right 

 is to tell the pupil to let the reins slip through his 

 fingers as he extends his arms when the horse is in 

 the air, however small the obstacle. By doing this, 

 his seat will not be interfered with, and those 

 wooden movements of the arms and wrists which 

 are so easily acquired and so hard to lose willl be 

 avoided. I am told that the Ecuyers at Saumur 

 very generally follow this custom of letting the 

 reins slip when the horse is on the downward plane. 

 Some of those jockeys w^ho do not land over a fence 

 leaning forward, give extra head-room to the horse 



