TRAINING. 147 



to lean forward : he should approach the obstacle 

 sitting well down in the saddle, the lower part of 

 his lesfs carried well back. As the horse sfives the 

 impulse from the croup the rider should lean back, 

 more or less, depending upon the height of the drop ; 

 and as the horse alights he should afford it such 

 support from the reins as is required. In leaping 

 the horse should rise well, taking the weight upon 

 the bent hind-legs, and the fore-feet should first 

 receive the weight after the leap. To insure this 

 the snaffle bit should be used in jumping, unless the 

 rider have the firmest of seats and the lightest of 

 hands, for the curb bit is apt to teach the horse 

 to ' buck over,' so that all four feet receive the 

 weight, and sometimes to alight in such a manner 

 that the hind-feet first reach the ground. 



After the horse alights, and has taken such sup- 

 port as it requires, the legs and hands should collect 

 it for the speed and pace with which it approached 

 the leap; for after all such exertions, in which the 

 centre of gravity is violently shifted, the union is 

 lost, and must be restored by the action of the aids. 



In a perfectly finished jump from the gallop the 

 horse should receive the weight on the fore-leg 

 opposite to the hind-leg that gave the last impulse 

 over the obstacle. That is, if the horse approaches 

 the obstacle in gallop right, it should receive the 



