RIDING AND TRAINING. 33 



ments of the rider's body must not affect the grasp 

 and position of the thighs, and the lower parts of the 

 legs must be kept back until the jump is finished. 



As the horse alights the rider will resume the 

 tension of the reins, and be ready to give the animal 

 a firm support if it be required. But in taking the 

 ' touch ' of the horse's mouth there must be no 

 violence, and in giving support the horse must not 

 be hampered or harassed. As soon as the horse 

 acknowledges the bit by yielding the jaw the hand 

 should make a like concession. 



An attendant should, in the first lesson, direct the 

 movements of the horse with a leading-rein, so that 

 the beginner may devote his attention to the positions 

 of his body and extremities. After having taken 

 a few leaps with the leading-rein the rider should be 

 left to himself, so that he may learn to collect the 

 horse for the leap. This collecting will be accom- 

 plished by gentle vibrations of the reins and such 

 pressures of the rider's heels as are required to 

 make the horse gather itself for the exertion. To 

 * raise ' a horse at a jump is a delicate operation, and 

 the beginner should not attempt it. If the horse be 

 a willing jumper the play of the bit made to collect 

 its forces will be all that is required, and all that a 

 beginner should attempt. But a horse can be raised 

 to a leap, just as it can be raised to perform a 



c 



