Finishing the Horse. 1 1 5 



time propel his body its own length in ad- 

 vance. This is an achievement which, I 

 venture to affirm, any tolerably active bullock 

 could easily learn to perform. 



Make a leaping-bar with a long heavy 

 pole and a few stout hurdles. Muffle the 

 bar, and if necessary thatch the hurdles, with 

 furze. Lay the bar on the ground, and set 

 up the hurdles so as to form a lane leading to 

 it. Then lead the horse across it in a lunge. 

 Let him tread upon it or blunder over it if 

 he likes ; the furze will soon teach him to 

 jump it. If he refuses, let an attendant 

 follow him with a long whip ; but take 

 care that the horse is not unnecessarily struck 

 or frightened. When he hops quietly over 

 the bar upon the ground, begin to raise it 

 by means of the hurdle-bars, a few inches at 

 a time, until it is as high as a gate. And 

 when he jumps this height steadily, lay down 

 another bar seven or eight feet beyond the 

 first, and raise it gradually as before. 



Better judges than I can pretend to be 

 are of opinion that the leaping-bar should 

 be fixed, so as to throw down the horse if he 

 fails to clear it. In some cases this may be 



12 



