THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 115 



must not only go a good pace on it, but he must be allowed to 

 extend his head and neck the instant he takes off. If this is 

 neglected, the fair equestrian, in attempting a water jump, will 

 inevitably find herseK in the brook. 



Now, a man in riding at water has this great advantage over a 

 lady in the same case, that, having equal power with both legs, he 

 can force his horse up to any length of rein, no matter how long, in 

 reason, and compel him to face it, thus enabling the rider to hold 

 him through every inch of his jump, while he gives him plenty of 

 scope to extend himself. For a lady to do this is impossible. Too 

 much pressure of the left leg or repeated use of the spur, even if 

 counteracted on the off side with the whip, would cause the horse 

 to throw his haunches to one side, and he would not jump straight. 

 Steadiness of seat, hand, and leg are therefore indispensable to the 

 lady. The horse ought to be well practised at the particular jump 

 before she is allowed to attempt it, and therefore should require no 

 rousing or urging, to get plenty of way on, for his effort. But 

 before the pupil faces her horse towards the brook, she should be 

 emphatically but quietly enjoined by the instructor to respond to his 

 word " now " as follows : Let it be understood that her elbows 

 should be drawn back until they are three inches or thereabouts 

 behind her waist, the hands about the same distance below the 

 elbows, the former about six inches apart, with the fingers closed' 

 firmly on the reins and turned inwards and upwards imtil they touch 

 the waist, the reins divided, as for galloping, but with the slightest 

 possible feehng upon the curb. With her hands in the above-named 

 form she should ride her horse to his jump, never moving them until 

 she hears the sharp sound of the word " Now ! " from the instructor, 

 when at the same instant the body, from the waist upwards, 

 should be thrown back and the hands shot forward, the elbows 

 following, until they are just level with the front of the w^aist. As 

 the hands go forward, the little fingers should be turned downwards 

 and the knuckles upwards ; this wUl bring the middle jomts of both 

 hands with the nails dowm wards against the right thigh, about four 

 to six inches above (or, as the rider sits, behind) the knee ; and this 

 turning down of the nails and forward motion of hands and elbows 



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