RIDING AND TRAINING. 35 



from the trot to the leap and back again to the trot 

 give excellent practice to the rider. The beginner 

 will follow the same rules in riding the horse over 

 obstacles from the trot as from the halt, and he will 

 collect the horse, upon its alighting, to continue in 

 the pace with which it approached the bar. 



When the horse takes a leap from the gallop it 

 is not necessary for the rider to lean forward. As 

 the horse springs from the ground he should lean 

 back, more or less, depending upon the drop from 

 the highest point in the leap, to resume the erect 

 position as the hind-legs of the horse reach the 

 ground. Upon a galloping horse the rider should 

 approach a jump sitting down in the saddle, the 

 knees and thighs close, the loins curved without 

 rigidity, the feet a little in rear of the perpendicular, 

 and the hands held low. 



.The horse should be ' in hand,' and directed 

 towards the obstacle, but, while the rider will not 

 surrender control over the animal, it must be given 

 liberty to determine where and with what exertion 

 it must take off for the leap ; and, after it alights, 

 the hand will offer such support as is required, and 

 collect the horse for the same speed as that with 

 which it approached the leap. In resuming the 

 tension of the reins, the hand should act lightly, so 

 that the horse may not be impeded in its efforts to 



