i2i 



son which will not check the colt when he gets to 

 the end of it. Before the colt is ridden over the 

 bar, a wing", consisting of a couple of pretty high 

 hurdles, should be placed at the open end, and he 

 will be less likely to shy past. The spot chosen 

 for jumping should be reasonably soft, and the colt 

 should be shod slightly short rather than long in 

 the fore-feet so as to prevent him pulling himself 

 down by over-reaching. A colt is very liable to do 

 this until he become accustomed by practice to 

 steady and collect himself both in approaching the 

 fence and in alighting at the other side. 



HOV^ TO TRAIN THE COLT TO JUMP. 



The colt should be coursed round in a circle in 

 both directions, the instructions for which are given 

 in a former chapter. His head should not be con- 

 fined in any way, the reins simply being fixed to 

 the saddle by putting the stirrup leathers through 

 them so as to prevent them getting over his head. 



The bar should only be about two feet high at 

 first, and it m.ay be raised a few inches each day 

 as the colt becomes familiar with his work. The 

 colt must never be put over it more than half-a- 

 dozen times each day or he will grow tired and 

 careless. If special attention is paid to this import- 

 ant point, and the colt kindly treated, always making 

 much of him when he jumps it well, he will soon 

 grow exceedingly fond of the sport, and if mounted 

 upon a good set of legs he will soon become a bold 



