48 



RIDING FOR LADIES, 



The reins being held in both hands with a firm, steady 

 hold, the horse should be ridden straight at the spot you 

 have selected to jump. Sit straight, or, if anything out 

 of the perpendicular, lean a little back. The run at the 

 fence need only be a few yards. As he nears it, the 

 forward prick of his alert ears and a certain measuring 

 of his distance will indicate that he means " to have it," 



THE LEAP. 



and is gathering himself for the effort. The rider should 

 then, if she can persuade herself so to do, give him full 

 liberty of head. Certain instructors, and horsemen in 

 general, will prate glibly of " lifting" a horse over his fence. 

 I have read of steeplechase riders " throwing " their horses 

 over almost unnegotiable obstacles, but it is about as easy 

 to upend an elephant by the tail and throw him over the 



