THE lady's horse. 11 



horse accustomed to them can hop or step over^ are the 

 cause, be they ever so small, of trouble and possible grief 

 to horses which have never been jumped at all. First, 

 they usually profess to refuse ; then, the question being 

 pressed, they slide their fore feet nearly into the ditch, 

 and jump straight up into the air, alighting just about 

 where they took off, possibly on their heads. And even 

 if they get over the obstacle, which is perhaps hardly two 

 feet wide, they do so in such an uncomfortable form that 

 their mistress is very likely to determine that all jumping 

 is hateful, and to decline any further experiments of that 

 sort. Horses seem to object to an open ditch, particularly 

 one with water in it, more than any other obstacle. But, 

 unless they are ridden at wide ones, and thereby taught 

 to refuse, a very few lessons accustom them to all they 

 are likely to encounter in their career as ladies' hacks. 

 I know of no better plan than to lead them, with a long 

 rein, over a few common-place fences, just to teach them 

 the use of their legs — their hind legs especially — and 

 then ride them, not without a lead, over such small water- 

 courses and low rails as may be handy. Care must, I 

 need hardly say, be taken not to prolong any of the 

 lessons until the horse is tired of them. When he will 

 trot up to a common ditch and jump it without any fuss 

 or excitement, and trot away on the other side ; and 

 when he will creep through a gap, taking care to get his 

 feet well over any grip belonging thereto ; and if he adds 

 to these accomplishments the power of opening a gate 

 quietly, he is fit to carry his mistress, and may be 

 saddled and bridled for the purpose. Or, on second 

 thought, this operation may be deferred until the lady's 

 hunter puts in an appearance, also ready for his work. 

 The purchase and training of a hunter to carry a lady 



