264 THE AMERICAN HORSEWOMAN. 



tage of a time when her horse is hungry, his 

 mistress should give him a few oats and, pass- 

 ing over the bar, she should rattle the oats and 

 call to him, when he will bound over to obtain 

 them. This course should be followed at each 

 meal, and she should reward him by feeding, 

 caressing, and praising him every time he leaps 

 the bar, — the object being to accustom him 

 to leap it without being whipped or treated 

 harshly. By thus being allowed to take the 

 leap of his own accord and without assistance, 

 he will gain confidence, and will not be apt to 

 refuse when his rider is placed upon his back. 

 In the course of this training, the appearance 

 of the bar should be changed in various ways, 

 as, for example, by placing different bright col- 

 ored articles upon it, such as pieces of carpet, 

 rugs, shawls, etc. If he be accustomed to leap 

 only over an object that invariably presents the 

 same appearance, he may refuse to leap one of 

 a different aspect. 



Having thus trained the horse until he has 

 become quite familiar with the movements of 

 the leap, and does not refuse to pass over the 

 bar, whatever appearance it may present, he 

 will then be ready for his rider. For the first 

 few trials the lady should take care to have the 

 bar consist of some material that can readily be 



