34 TRAINING YOUNG 



even be harmful. The old horse will generally 

 want to go faster than the youngster should at 

 the commencement of his training, in which 

 case the services of the former should be dis- 

 pensed with. 



The length of time that a young horse should 

 be kept jumping free depends upon the following 

 points : 



I. His condition and state of his legs. 

 II. The state of the ground, good or 

 otherwise. 



III. His age and the weight of the rider 



who is training him. 



IV. Whether he has shown himself pro- 



ficient, jumping free or not. 



Generally, if the horse is fresh on his legs and 

 fit to carry his rider, there is no object in con- 

 tinuing to jump him free. 



Personally, I would not jump some horses free 

 at all, but one must make allowances for the 

 above conditions. 



If the youngster has been schooled free on the 

 lines suggested, he should not have contracted 

 bad habits, such as rushing at his fences, 

 jumping out of his stride, getting his head 

 lower than is required to balance himself 

 properly over the fences. 



