RACE AND SHOWYARD RIDINCx 247 



''It is a mistake when schooling to keep on 

 jumping horses over very big fences, for it is then 

 worth their while to refuse ; and also the lads 

 riding them are apt to turn nervous, and this is 

 quickly communicated to the animal. If the 

 fences are a fair height both horses and riders 

 enjoy the fun, particularly if they do not get 

 too much of it at one time. Every now and 

 again a longer school can be taken, with one or 

 two full-sized fences in the course of it ; but I am 

 quite convinced that horses jump better, with 

 more dash and nerve, if the fences are rather on 

 the small side than if they are too big. A sure 

 sign that a fence is too big is when the horses 

 jump sideways at it, and this is a frequent cause 

 of falls through the leader crossing the path of the 

 horse which is following close behind." 



When horses are schooled it is as well to have 

 them well bandaged with thick bandages for 

 when a horse spreads himself well over a flying 

 leap he is apt sometimes to hit his fore sinew with 

 his hind foot and I have known serious conse- 

 quences ensue. 



Condition should not present any difficulties. 

 A horse that has been hard hunted through the 

 season should be pretty fit at the end of it and 

 plenty of steady work with a short schoohng 

 gallop every now and again and perhaps a couple 

 of winding up gallops in the last week will be 

 about what he will require, but it is of course 

 impossible to lay any rule down. It is surely 



