J 06 THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 



slightly f orw ard ; and she should avoid stiffening the waist, because 

 it is from that point that she is able to throw the upper part of the 

 figure backwards at the proper moment, and at the true angle, to 

 preserve her balance. She should direct her glance straight between 

 the horse's ears, and well in front of him to the end of the school, 

 because if she looks down at her hands or the bar, she relaxes her 

 upright position. The horse should be led up to the bar by the 

 instructor, who should be able to jump lightly over the obstacle 

 with the horse ; and another assistant should follow with a whip, 

 the presence of which the horse will recognise in an instant, without 

 any noise being made with it, and he will go at once into his bridle, 

 and "take hold" of the rider's hand. A groom should hold the 

 end of the bar or hurdle so lightly, that if the horse touches it, it 

 will fall ; while another groom should stand in such a position, about 

 a horse's length to half a one outside the instructor, as to do away 

 with all chance of the horse swerving from any nervous action of the 

 rider's hand. 



In jumping, at first the pupil should ride entirely upon the snaffle 

 rein. In fact, for early leaping lessons, it is best to put a good broad 

 reined snaffle in the horse's mouth, instead of a double bridle, 

 because it prevents any confusion about the reins, and consequent 

 derangement of nerve in the pupil. On approaching the bar, the 

 latter should incline the body back from the waist upwards, at 

 such an angle, that a line from the back point of the shoulder would 

 fall about a couple of inches behind the cantle of the saddle. This 

 is not according to the strict formula laid down by high-class pro- 

 fessors of equitation ; on the contrary. " The Aid Book " teUs us 

 that "the body should be inclined forward as the horse rises, and 

 backwards as he alights." But I have found in teaching ladies to 

 jump their horses that, particularly with a quick jumping one, any 

 such attempt would result in the horse hitting the lady in the face 

 with his head, and thereby thoroughly disgusting her with leaping 

 lessons, to say nothing of possible disfigurement or injury. The 

 instructor cannot be too quiet, simply keeping well hold of his 

 horse, making him walk close to the boards, and cautioning his 

 pupil to sit back — not away Jrom the crutches of the saddle, but to 



