54 TRAINING YOUNG 



himself upwards with his hind-limbs, when the 

 forehand is still in the air.* 

 As the hind-limbs are coming up and the horse 

 is in mid-air, he is preparing and balancing 

 himself to land. 



ACTION OF THE HANDS 



Consequently he will now wish to extend his 

 head for this purpose. Unless he is a horse 

 that continuously holds his head out, the rider 

 jiiiist be prepared to give him more rein as he is 

 landing. 



It is easier for him to do this if he is now not 

 sitting back. In fact, it is not necessary for him 

 to sit back till the horse is actually landing. 

 Raising his weight off the back part of the 

 saddle prevents the rider from feeling any 

 concussion from the horse's efforts, should he 

 have jumped awkwardly, and consequently he 

 will not jerk his horse on the mouth — this is 

 most important when schooling a youngster. 



* In the gallop, on the other hand, the chief effort is borne by 

 the leading fore-leg. As is shown in the diagram, the body 

 rotates over the foot with the limb rigid all the way down to 

 the fetlock. Finally, by a muscular bracing of the leg the body 

 is propelled forwards to position (i) when all the legs are off 

 the ground. If the weight of the rider is not forward the horse's 

 effort is accentuated, and the hind-legs also are hampered in 

 their action of primary propulsion, since they gain impetus by 

 coming as far forward as possible. 



