150 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



him by pulling him in the jump ; there 

 are too many chances of his being in- 

 jured, even though he has no weight 

 to carry. The bars should be strong 

 enough to sustain his weight, without 

 breaking, so that if he hits them hard he 

 will have a tumble and a lesson. The 

 top bar should, if possible, be covered 

 with straw, to protect the knees from 

 sharp edges. Some forcible raps and 

 a few tumbles will teach the horse the 

 necessity of exerting himself, and how 

 to bend his knees and lift his hind-legs 

 over a jump. 



A fall is, at the best, a dangerous and 



often a disastrous affair for a woman, 



whose very position on a horse 



lessens the chance of escape from 



such a predicament without injury. A 



safety skirt will prevent her being 



dragged ; but much harm may result 



from the fall, even though she be clear 



