THE BARB AND THE BEIDLE. 113 



CHAPTER XIY. 



The Leaping Lesson (continued). 



It may fairly be accepted as a general rule, that a horse should not 

 be ridden over a fence upon the curb alone. The rule, however, has 

 its exceptions. One of these is the possible case of a lady being- 

 placed in such a predicament that she has no alternative in the pre- 

 sence of imminent danger but that of leaping her horse to avoid it, 

 and in such case it may be (and, indeed, in my own experience has 

 occurred) when the lady Avas riding her horse with a single curb 

 bridle. If the fair equestrian so placed lacks the necessary nerve, 

 dexterity of hand, and firmness of seat, she must come to certain 

 grief. It is therefore highly desirable that, although on ordinary 

 occasions she should use both snaffle and curb in leaping, she should 

 also be thoroughly an fait at doing it, if the necessity arises, upon a 

 "hard and sharp," or single " Hanoverian." 



Again, leaping on the curb rein only teaches the pupil the full 

 value of every particle of her balance and muscular grasp on the 

 saddle, while it also shows her that, although as a rule a horse 

 requires to be kept well together, there are exceptional instances in 

 which it is necessary to yield the hands freely to him. The above- 

 named is one of these cases. The leaping lessons, however, which 

 lead up to the point of proficiency at which the pupil shoidd be per- 

 mitted to attempt so critical and difficult a piece of riding must be 

 carefully and inductively given. 



Assuming that the fair tyro rides her horse boldly and confidently 

 over the ordinary fences used in a school, and can execute an "in 

 and out " jump without derangement of seat or hand, the effort of 

 the master should next be directed towards teaching his pupil how to 



