HORSES TO JUMP 67 



ground. The Italian motto is * Patience and 

 Progression.' The final result is that no horse 

 ever refuses or rushes." 



This extract gives some idea of the pains that 

 Continental riders take to reach perfection in 

 training their horses. 



As a rough guide I will put down a reasonable 



period required for schooling a young horse 



bought, say, in June. 



July. Commence with careful conditioning. 



Mouthing, balancing, quiet riding. 



This, of course, will be continued during 



the training. 



August. Free or dismounted jumping. If 



the horse is Jit and in the hands oj a 



competent horseman, mounted schooling 



is preferable in my opinion, but only 



under these conditions, and carried out 



on the lines previously suggested. 



During this month a Riding School 



will be found most useful as the going 



outside will be unsuitable for schooling. 



September. Further advanced schooling, 



the obstacles being varied as much as 



possible. Opening gates. Should the 



ground permit, small obstacles, ditches, 



banks, and natural fences may be 



jumped. The horse requires daily at 



