THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 117 



After the pupil does the brook well, it may be replaced by a 

 •double set of gorsed hurdles, jjlaced just so far apart as to neces- 

 sitate their being done at a single jump. In this case, however, the 

 pupil, while giving her horse by the action of her hands sufficient 

 scope to allow him to jump a considerable distance, should not be 

 allowed to ride so fast at the obstacle, about half the speed neces- 

 sary to do water being quite sufficient ; and the oif-side hurdles 

 should be so placed that if the horse strikes them they will give 

 way. 



As a rule ladies do not perform, even in Leicestershire, over big 

 double fences, or very strong oxers, and the indication of what is 

 required to do them should be sufficient for riding school practice. 



As I have elsewhere observed, a horse will jump higher and 

 further when going with hounds than you can with safety ask him 

 to do when in cool blood, or when only roused to extraordinary 

 effort by the use of the spur or whip. And no man in his senses in 

 the hunting field would ever think of piloting a lady to a place 

 which he would only ride at himself at a pinch. Such jumps, there- 

 iore, as I have endeavoured to describe within doors should represent 

 the biggest which most ladies are likely to encounter with in a fair 

 hunting country. As regards riding over a fence, with the curb rein 

 ^unrelieved by the snaffle, the practice should be as follows : 



A hurdle should be well sloped, so as to render the leap a very 

 moderate one. The rider should quit her hold of the reins, which 

 should be knotted and fastened by a thong to the mane. A leading- 

 rein should then be attached to the ring of the snaffle, and the horse 

 led quietly up to the fence, and halted. The pupil should then draw 

 her hands back until they are in the same position as she would place 

 them in putting her horse at his jump, with the hands closed firmly, 

 which will give steadiness to the body. She must take a de- 

 termined hold of the u^Dper pommel with her right knee, and be 

 ready with the figure perfectly poised to throw her weight back at 

 the proper moment ; placing her left thigh also firmly against the 

 third crutch, her foot well home in the stirrup and well forward, the 

 shoulders perfectly square, and the waist quite pliant. An assistant 

 ishould then crack a whip smartly in rear of the horse, without 



