24 HORSES 



once acquired, is very difficult to get out of, and 

 a boy should be especially careful not to fall into 

 it. You should be able to sit a horse over a fence 

 without reins, and it is a good plan to have a few 

 rides in a school on a trained jumper, so that you 

 will get into the habit of balancing yourself with- 

 out assistance from the bridle. 



The bad rider looses the reins as the horse is 

 going at the fence, and tightens them when in the 

 air. 



The beginner should not — and in fact no man 

 until he has had considerable experience should — 

 think of giving any assistance to a horse in the act 

 of jumping. A really good rider with decent hands 

 can undoubtedly help a horse, but the average man 

 generally does more harm than good by his inter- 

 ference. The boy to whom I am now talking 

 need not therefore worry himself about this ques- 

 tion, and all he has to think about is to sit still 

 and give the horse his head. 



Do not, however, let everything go before you 

 get to the fence, or the horse will not understand 

 your intentions, and may possibly refuse ; but just 

 keep a gentle feel on the reins until you are in the 

 air, and then leave the animal to do the rest. 



Sit forward as the horse rises and back as he lands. 

 Failing to observe this rule is, I firmly believe, one 

 cause of a beginner getting into the habit of pulling 

 at the bridle when in the air. Just think for a minute 

 and you will see this is reasonable. The action of 

 the horse rising from the ground throws you back, 



