76 HEADS MAY BE HELD TOO HIGH. 



on alighting from a deep leap. We are therefore 

 compelled on a horse's landing to act with a little 

 severity for self-preservation, in order both to assist 

 and force him to recover himself. But this, if a 

 horse's mouth is so light that he will throw up his 

 head, we cannot do; for, as I said in an article I 

 wrote on martingales, throwing up the head is not 

 lifting up the fore-quarters ; and that is what all our 

 safety depends upon in such a situation as this. 

 Even where a martingale is not, I allow desirable, it 

 is better than letting him throw up his head. If 

 we keep his head in its place, be it even by a martin- 

 gale, we can support him, and do something ; but if 

 he gets his head up, we can do nothing ; and though 

 we feel him likely to go on his knees and roll over, 

 go he must, for we can neither help nor force him to 

 make increased exertion to help himself. 



There are few situations, if any, where a close seat 

 is so necessary as in a drop leap. I have seen many 

 otherwise good riders whose seat was so loose as to 

 leave space to put a loaf between their fork and the 

 saddle in going over a leap : such riders, on their 

 horse landing, come whap down on their horse's back, 

 mostly rather inclining forwards : and with slack reins, 

 it can only be good luck that saves them when they 

 do not get a roll. The man with a close seat goes 

 over upright on his horse, and on his landing, with 

 his hands in their place and his body thrown back, 

 with great part of his weight taken off his horse's fore 

 part, he gives him a pull and a bit of a twist into his 

 gallop, and away he sails again. 



Assisting horses also comprehends the preventing 

 them taking too much out of themselves by making 

 unnecessary exertion at fences, and also by making 



