JUMPING 121 



the reins, which, preparatory to jumping, should have 

 been shortened (so that a woman's hands come over 

 her knee), are kept at about the same length the en- 

 tire way over the jump. In all cases the hands should 

 be as low and as motionless as possible, and no at- 

 tempt should be made to interfere with the horse's 

 mouth. Both hands should remain on the reins, and 

 the style seen in old sporting prints, where the rider 

 has one arm raised in the air — termed " calling a cab" 

 — should not be imitated. The old-fashioned idea that 

 one should lean back over a jump has long since dis- 

 appeared in this country, but in England one still sees 

 many of the best riders doing it. Experience, how- 

 ever, has taught riders who make a specialty of jump- 

 ing, that the position in which one leans well forward 

 is, by all odds, the best. Although- the horse un- 

 doubtedly requires to lighten his forehand before tak- 

 ing off, nevertheless, he does the actual jumping by the 

 propelling powers of his hindquarters, and the for- 

 ward seat is the only one which enables the rider not 

 only to maintain the proper centre of gravity as the 

 horse rises in the air, but also to get his or her weight 

 off the animal's loins, which, above all, should be ab- 

 solutely free. When the animal is about to land, the 

 body should be straightened a little so as still to 

 maintain the centre of gravity as well as to lessen the 

 concussion on the animal's fore legs, but under no cir- 

 cumstances is it necessary, a o is so often supposed, for 

 the rider to lean really far back.* 



Leaning way back brings the weight directly on the 

 horse's loins, which interferes with his lifting powers 



* There are times, of course, when a horse takes off before he is 

 expected to, when even the best of riders inadvertently lean back, or 

 as was once aptly expressed, are "left behind." 



