38 THE BRIDLE BITS. 



chance leap ; both iutended it, else it could not have 

 been done. The safest riding is in taking the country 

 as it comes, *^ unsight, unseen " — ** neck or nothing." By 

 this, the horse is inspired with confidence; knowing that 

 he must take what comes, he takes equal chances with a 

 bold and fearless horseman, who must be an expert rider 

 to ensure success — for there are some leaps, such as a foss 

 wall, that a mistake would render deadly to either man 

 or horse — but luck, on which many depend, is sometimes 

 friendly to the uninitiated. However, riding up to a 

 wall to see if there is a ditch, pile of stones, cow, flock of 

 sheep, or a pile of fence rails on the other side, would 

 spoil the best hunter in the world. 



TOPPING THE WALL. 



What is termed ^' topping a wall " is by the horse strik- 

 ing the wall with his hind feet to send him with renewed 

 effort or spring beyond some object on the other side that 



rm-: 



.^ ■QsJ;"-'. 



Fii^. 11. — TOPPING THE WALL. 



he did not see till half over, and to do which he had not 

 used power enough in his s[)ring when he rose. This is 

 considered very suj^erior training. It is the work of the 

 snaffle bit, and could not be done with any other bit with 

 any degree of certainty. The very pretty performances 

 of horses in a circus are done under the influence of con- 

 stant training where the feats are to take place. The 

 same man has the horse alone, and being perfectly docile 

 and tractable, in cool blood and under strict obedience, 

 and when there is no danger or excitement, the object 



