LEAPING OR FENCING. 283 



mishaps, find it eas}^ to keep Avell down in his seat, and to 

 land in such a manner as to jeopardize neither his own 

 neck, nor his horse's fore legs. 



Instead of the usual lengthy directions for leaping, we 

 insert only the following suggestions, believing that the 

 art is to be acquired only by practice, and that the expe- 

 rience of each individual, bought at the cost of a few 

 mishaps, will be of more value than a volume of detailed 

 instructions. 



In going at a leap hold the reins in both hands, keep- 

 ing them rather low, and steadying the horse by a uniform 

 but not too tight hold of his mouth, reducing the speed to 

 enable the horse to gather his hind legs well under him 

 to take the spring. 



As soon as he rises, give him the reins, and be ready to 

 hold him at the moment of landing, — but be careful not to 

 interfere with him until he has fairly touched the ground ; 

 a nervous grasping of the reins, g"uch as is natural to the 

 beginner, will almost inevitably brii:ig him to grief 



All high leaps should be approached slowly, and those 

 which require a long distance to be covered, should be 

 ridden to at a gallop. 



In approaching a water leap, take a firm hold of your 

 horse's head, and, having made up your mind to jump it, 

 do not let him swerve to the right nor to the left ; the time 

 for indecision has passed, and the leap must be taken at all 

 cost, or that horse will never face water again. 



Be careful never to lead your horse to a leap which you 

 are not sure that he can cover, except in a case of abso- 

 lute necessity ; he will then, if necessary, go to severe 

 leaps with confidence, and with a good chance of "cariy- 

 ing" them. 



Do not try to lift your horse at his leaps. You might 

 as well try to lift yourself by your boot-straps. If y(;ur 



