Training to Jump 175 



This training may well begin during colthood while 

 he is running with the dam by arranging a couple 

 of fences, such as the dam can easily step over, say 

 eighteen inches or two feet high, and so situated that 

 both mare and foal must pass over them when 

 leaving the stable and when returning. To avoid 

 accident these fences should be made of movable 

 boards placed one upon the other, thus avoiding 

 cracks, and the top should be padded with burlap. 

 As soon as the foal learns to jump easily, the boards 

 may be removed for a month and later replaced. 



Exercise of a similar nature should be provided 

 from time to time, gradually increasing the height 

 of the hurdles up to say three feet by the time the 

 horse is three years old. It is not considered safe 

 to go beyond this height, as it is very easy to sprain 

 the young horse or to cause the development of 

 bony growths such as curbs, splints and the like. 



At three years of age, the hunter may be trained 

 to the uses of the bit much as suggested for the sad- 

 dle horse (p. 150). Now with the long lines drive 

 the horse about an inclosure similar to the small 

 track described for the trotter (p. Ill), but provided 

 with high, well-padded fences on either side, and 

 with two hurdles on one stretch and one on the 

 other. For the first two rounds place the bars on 

 the ground and if the horse has been trained as 

 suggested, he will jump them. This serves to fix 

 the idea as to what he is supposed to do. When the 



