36 ROAD, PARK, AND SCHOOL 



secure its footing, but if the horse seeks the support 

 of the reins, the rider must be ready to offer it. No 

 attempt to lift the horse should be made in the 

 flying leap, for, apart from the danger of pulling the 

 horse into the obstacle, the animal will soon learn 

 to wait for an indication from the rider when to take 

 off, and in default of this may rise too late to clear 

 the leap. 



A horse should never be whipped or spurred as 

 it takes a leap, for such a course will make the 

 exercise distasteful to the most generous animals. 



As a rule, the snaffle bit only should be used in 

 jumping, for in the hands of an inexpert rider the 

 curb bit will, by its severity, drive the horse to 

 refuse leaping altogether. The safest form in which 

 a horse jumps is where it raises the forehand and 

 leaves the ground from the hind-legs, and alights 

 upon the fore-feet ; and the greater the deliberation 

 with which the leap is taken, the more certain the 

 horse will be to jump in this manner. 



