A LESSON IN LEAPING. 149 



depend altogether upon the size and nature of the leap to 

 be accomplished ; for example, at a big-drop, or down-jump, 

 a good rider will almost touch the horse's croup, but you 

 must never lose sight of the fact that it is the shoulders 

 that are to be bent flexibly backwards (returning to an 

 upright position on landing), and not any part of the body 

 that lies below the waist. 



The two great secrets of leaping are, to sit like a centaur 

 while your waist and shoulders adapt themselves pliantly 

 to the movements of your horse — and never to interfere 

 with his mouth. Plenty of headroom has always been my 

 cry ; I believe that where it is attended to there is very 

 rarely an accident. Horses, even those that are not very 

 highly trained, are marvellously clever, and will generally 

 put their feet in the right places if allowed to see where 

 they are to put them, but a rider might just as well blind- 

 fold a horse at once — tie a thick bandage across his eyes — ■■ 

 and then expect him to fence safely, as draw the reins so 

 tight when he is rising that even if not absolutely thrown 

 down by the action, he is prevented from seeing where 

 he is expected to land. A horse cannot possibly do his 

 work well or generously when compelled to carry his rider 

 with his mouth — nor can a rider derive the pleasure that he 

 is seeking while sitting altogether wrongly in the saddle. 



It is quite beautiful to see the way in which young horses 

 fence when their mouths are not interfered with. I have 

 often taken a raw youngster out over a trappy country, with 

 only leading reins on him, or long ropes, and have jumped 

 alongside of him over the little ditches, transported with 



