116 THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 



will give the horse free scope of his head and neck, while the hands? 

 coming in contact with the right thigh will still maintain the proper 

 appui, and support the horse when he lands in his jump. Although 

 the foregoing appears prolix in description, it occupies little time ta 

 explain viva voce ; and with the instructor by her side the lady may 

 practise the action two or three times while her horse is standing 

 still before he faces his jump. The instructor should then quit the 

 lady's side and place himself near the brook in such a position that 

 he has a fair view of the horse as he takes off, Tlie pupil should 

 turn her horse quietly about, and ride to the left into the corner of 

 the school, and as soon as the horse's head is square to the jump, 

 and himself square to the boards, the master should give the word 

 smartly, " Canter." With plenty of vivacity, the pupil should 

 immediately strike her horse into a striding pace, keeping her 

 hands well back and hitting him smartly once with the spur. An 

 assistant with a whip should also crack it slightly behind the horse. 



Let the master then closely watch the moment at which the horse's 

 fore feet quit the ground, and give his word quickly and sharply, 

 and in nine cases out of ten the jump will be a success. 



The artificial brook should be arranged about two-thirds of the- 

 distance down the school, so as to give the horse plenty of space to 

 get into his stride before he comes to it, while there will be sufficient 

 room to collect him after he lands. If he does it well the first time 

 (and with the above described handling he will scarcely fail to do 

 so), and the rider performs her part moderately well, the jump 

 should not be repeated. If, however, it is necessary again to go 

 through the instruction, the horse should not be put at the place 

 back again, but the end of the canvas be rolled up and the wattle 

 removed, so as to admit of his passing to the longer reach of the 

 school. These lessons should be given daily until the pupil executes 

 them with the requisite energy and correctness of riding, the in- 

 structor taking special care never to ask his pupil, however, to do 

 such jumps unless he sees that she is quite equal in health and good 

 spirits to the occasion. For riding which requires any extra " dash'* 

 about it must never be attempted by anybody if they are at all out 

 of nerve. 



