270 JUMPING. 



nearly full speed ; and the fifth, to get quickly away into 

 his stride again after landing. The third is a question of 

 practice, for the solving of which the rider may at times 

 give a hint with leg, voice, or whip. As jumping too 

 " big " is a fault on the right side, and as experience will 

 generally correct it, I do not think any attempt should be 

 made to remedy such a tendency by the restraining influence 

 of the reins ; for the effect of such a proceeding would not 

 improbably be to make the horse slow at " getting away " 

 on landing. The power of jumping while going at a high 

 rate of speed is also a matter of practice, though, of course, 

 some horses acquire it far faster than others. The ability 

 to get quickly away from a fence will in no way be marred 

 by practice in jumping at a slow canter, so long as the 

 moderation in speed is due to the inclination of the horse, 

 and not to the fact that the rider has a tight hold of him 

 by the head. In steeplechasing, and to a lesser extent in 

 hunting, the horse's imitative faculty, if indulged, is liable 

 to cause him to make " mistakes " ; one of the most 

 common being that if he is galloping along with another 

 horse, but slightly behind him (say, half a length or so), his 

 instinct will prompt him, on nearing a fence, to "take off" 

 at the same moment as his leader does, with the frequent 

 result of a fall. " Running out " or swerving in imitation 

 of the leader may also be often observed. I would there- 

 fore advise that the intended chaser should be schooled by 

 himself until he has thoroughly acquired the habit of 

 taking his own line and measuring his own distance when 

 going at speed over a " made country " of orthodox size, 

 before sending him in company. During his first lessons 



