THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 10^ 



Complete confidence, however, must be established before a lady 

 should be asked to ride her horse at a fence out of a walk ; and 

 nearly as much time should be expended over this new step in the 

 series of lessons as were occupied in trotting. 



I have not, however, to define the principle upon which, in either 

 standing or flying leap, security of seat must be sought. Some say 

 that in leaping it is by muscular grasp only that a lady can retain 

 her true equilibrium in the saddle ; others adhere to the notion that 

 it is all done by balance. Now the truth lies midway between these- 

 two theories. It is quite possible for a man to ride over a fence by 

 balance only. AVitness what one sees frequently in a circus, where- 

 some talented equestrian maintains his footing on a bare-backed 

 steed, while the latter jumps a succession of bars. Here there is 

 nothing to keep the rider on the horse but sheer balance ; and, of 

 course, if this can be done by one man standing up, it can be much 

 more easily done by another sitting down in the saddle, although 

 very few men ride across country in such form, nor indeed is it 

 either safe or desirable to do so. The thing, nevertheless, is quite 

 easy. It is not so easy with a lady, because her position on the 

 saddle is altogether an artificial one ; and, moreover, the weight of 

 the skirt is sufficient to render riding by balance alone most diffi- 

 cult. It is by a combination of firm grasp on the crutches, seized 

 just before the horse arrives at his fence, and a true balancing of the 

 body from the waist upwards, that seciu-ity of seat in jumping is 

 obtained. A most necessary adjunct to the above, however, is firm- 

 ness of the arms, because, if the latter are allowed to ffy out from 

 the sides, the whole figure becomes, as it were, disconnected, and the 

 proper liplomh is lost. By taking a firm hold of the upper crutch of 

 the saddle with the right leg, the rider is enabled to balance her 

 body as the horse rises, while the pressure of the left leg against the 

 third crutch prevents the concussion of his landing from throwing 

 her forward, provided always she throws back her weight at precisely 

 the right moment. This requires practice, and well-timed assistance 

 from the instructor, thus : 



As soon as the pupil acquires sufficient confidence to ride her 

 horse fairly up to the fence, and keep his head straight to it, the 



