22 TRAINING YOUNG 



fences on the slope of a hill. This up and 

 down hill work teaches horses to balance and 

 extend themselves in a way that is unattainable 

 on the flat, and also improves their shoulders 

 very considerably. Horses jumping down hill 

 learn to land lightly without pitching forward. 

 I think a sound understanding of balance is so 

 necessary that I will give two examples. 

 The action of jumping slowly on and off a bank 

 clearly exemplifies my meaning. The particular 

 effort required is the reason why most Irish 

 hunters have a fair natural balance, though 

 they are generally unfinished. 

 Coming up to the bank the horse in steadying 

 himself brings his weight back and almost 

 simultaneously raises his forehand to scramble 

 up the bank. At the same time it will be 

 found that he has brought his hocks under 

 him to propel himself upwards. When he has 

 raised his forehand he extends his head to 

 help him to bring his hind-legs on to the bank. 

 On the top he collects himself again, then 

 throws his weight forward to enable him to 

 extend himself and get clear over the ditch on 

 the far side of the bank. 



Thus it will be seen that he is learning to 

 balance himself both in bringing his weight 

 back and forward. 



