70 TRAINING YOUNG 



He must look and see the ditch and judge his 

 stride correctly. It is advisable to pick out 

 your place where the edge of the ditch on the 

 take-off side is clearly defined and steady your 

 horse. He has previously been accustomed to 

 having his head free before he reaches the 

 fence, to enable him to look down and correct 

 his stride. He will not forget that lesson now, 

 and the rider will be repaid for the trouble he 

 took in the early schooling. In the same way 

 a young horse should be steadied at open water 

 or rails : it will enable him to get into his 

 proper stride and he will be less likely to slip 

 taking off. At the same time he must be given 

 the office with determination when required. 

 At all fences, but particularly at an upright 

 fence or rails, a good take off is invaluable. It 

 is preferable and safer to jump a large fence 

 with a good take off than a small one where the 

 near side is unsound or slippery. In fact, with 

 horses jumping, as with men, seventy-five per 

 cent, of the difficulty lies in the take off. A 

 young horse may also require to be helped if 

 he is dropping his hind-legs into a ditch by the 

 rider leaning his weight forward on landing. 

 This can easily be done with practice, and may 

 even save a back from being broken. 

 I must conclude with one word of warning. 



