94 



THE FAMILY HORSE. 



The fox-trot is an artificial gait, much cultivated in the West 

 and South. It is not encoiu-aged by the riding-masters, but is a very 

 easy, comfortable gait, which can be kept up all day with little 

 fatigue to the rider. 



Jumping must be learned by degrees. The Enghsh method is 

 to begin while the horse is young, and coax it to leap, by holding 



out its grain in plain view on the 

 opposite side of the hurdle. This 

 practise is followed six months, 

 gradually increasing the height of 

 the bar, before a rider is placed on 

 the back. An older horse may be 

 taught by first leading it over a low 

 bar on a walk. The bar is raised 

 from time to time, the horse still 

 being led slowly over it. Then it is 

 led to it at a run, man and horse 

 both jumping over it. When the 

 horse is accustomed to jump with 

 no one on his back he may be 

 mounted, and sent over a low bar 

 at first, gradually increasing the 

 height. By no means ride him up 

 to a jump which is higher than he 

 is willing to take, as it will dis- 

 courage him. The standing leap 

 ^. ^^, should first be practiced. Then trot 



Flff. 58.— AMERICAN SADDLE. j. j. xi • i. i j.r. 



or canter to the jump, take the rems 

 in both hands, sit down firmly in the saddle, and from the moment 

 the horse rises for the jump do nothing with knees, hands or voice 

 which can confuse him. Hold firmly with the knees, lean back- 

 ward, give the horse the reins as he rises, and be ready to hold them 

 firmly and help him recover as soon as he lands. 



COW-BOY RIDING. 



Throughout the remote West and Southwest, wherever cattle 

 range in great herds, there is a class of riders whose style may be 

 regarded as peculiarly American. Instead of the English saddle, 

 they use one more like that illustrated in figure 58. The tree is 

 covered with heavy oil-dressed leather, the stirrups are of bent 

 hickory, set so far back that the rider is nearly as erect as if stand- 

 ing on the ground. A broncho with one of these ponderous saddles 



