THE HUNTER 69 



hits them, come down all in a sickening heap and 

 crumple up right on top of his rider. 



It is, then, the everlasting happy medium that we 

 must look for. Timber of any height cannot be 

 jumped in the chancy way that brush is negotiated, 

 nor should it ever be " raced" over, but what horse- 

 men really mean when they say that a horse should 

 jump timber slowly and collectedly is that, no matter 

 how fast he comes down at it, he should, before actually 

 taking off, "set himself" and bring his hocks under 

 him for the jump. If he does this properly he may 

 go at his fences at almost any speed and yet be a safe 

 timber-topper. Although a really clever hunter may 

 be able to jump from a trot or a walk when necessary, 

 he will, nevertheless, do so with greater ease and 

 comfort and safety if he is able to approach his jumps 

 at sufficient pace to get up momentum. 



It is preferable for a woman's horse to approach a 

 jump leading on his off fore leg, but a really good 

 hunter should be able to jump smoothly off of, and 

 land on, either leg and not be obliged to change leads 

 at the last moment. He should clear the jump with 

 just enough to spare, but he should not unnecessarily 

 exert himself by clearing a far greater height than that 

 required. A horse who thus "overjumps," although 

 he gives one a delightfully safe "feel" and is generally 

 a brilliant performer in the show ring, soon tires him- 

 self out in the hunting field. In fact, on one occasion, 

 I know of a hunter judge, in a show ring, for this 

 reason turning down a well-known Canadian ring 

 jumper in favor of a horse who, although less brilliant, 

 measured his jumps more accurately and would there- 

 fore have lasted longer in the field. 



A good jumper should fold his knees well under him 



