THE PRIMER. 47 



galloping horse the rider should approach a 

 jump sitting down in the saddle, the knees and 

 thighs close, the loins curved without rigidity, the 

 feet a little in rear of the perpendicular, and 

 the hands held low. 



The horse should be * in hand,' and directed 

 towards the obstacle, but, while the rider will 

 not surrender control over the animal, it must 

 be given liberty to determine where, and with 

 what exertion it must take off for the leap ; and, 

 after it alights, the hand will offer such support 

 as is required, and collect the horse for the same 

 speed as that with which it approached the leap. 

 In resuming the tension of the reins, the hand 

 should act lightly, so that the horse may not be 

 impeded in its efforts to secure its footing, but 

 if the horse seeks the support of the reins, the 

 rider must be ready to offer it. No attempt 

 to lift the horse should be made in the flying 

 leap, for, apart from the danger of pulling the 

 horse into the obstacle, the animal will soon 

 learn to wait for an indication from the rider 

 when to take off, and in default of this may rise 

 too late to clear the leap. 



A horse should never be whipped or spurred 

 as it takes a leap, for such a course will make the 

 exercise distasteful to the most orenerous animals. 



