146 MODERN HORSEMANSHIP. 



The horse may then be ridden from a walk over 

 the bar, the rider collecting it as it approaches the 

 leap, so that it will have control of all its powers. 

 As the forehand rises the rider will lean forward 

 and drop the hand, as the hind-quarters give the 

 impulse the rider will lean back, and as the horse 

 alights he will give it a light support with the snaffle 

 bit. The horse should not be aided by the hand to 

 rise to the leap, as that will induce the bad habit of 

 depending upon the rider for the hint where to take 

 off, and in a flying leap might bring about a serious 

 disaster. But the horse should be brought to the 

 leap well collected, and it should then need no aid 

 from the hand. After the horse will jump, freely 

 but quietly, from the walk, it may in the same way 

 be made to take the leap from the trot and the 

 gallop, and finally from the halt. The animal should 

 not be discouraged by demanding too much from it, 

 either in the number or height of the jumps, and the 

 lesson should always end with a perfectly performed 

 leap, which should be rewarded. Whenever the 

 horse grows careless it should be put back to the 

 lessons in hand. Neither whip nor spur should be 

 used in leaping, beyond a light tap of the former, 

 applied behind the girths, if the horse fails to gather 

 the hind-legs well under the body. In jumping 

 from the gallop it will not be necessary for the rider 



