TEACHING -HOUSES TO JUMP. 129 



feet high in front, may be employed, with great ad- 

 vantage, in India, where suitable brooks are generally 

 difficult to find. It has the immense merit of causing 

 to the rider who goes at it, the smallest possible amount 

 of trepidation ; as he will know full well that it 

 cannot bring him to grief. Artificial water arranged as 

 I have described, is, usually, taken by horses, in all 

 good faith, as the real article. 



In India, a capital plan for teaching horses to become 

 clever over walls, without running any undue risk, is 

 to practise them over ones made up to the proper 

 height with single rows of sun-dried bricks, which will 

 come down if the animal "chances" them, but will 

 hurt his shins sufficiently to render him more careful 

 in the future. For making a horse clever over posts 

 and rails, one should employ a very thick log or trunk 

 of a tree, so that the animal will understand that it is 

 no use attempting to knock it down. In my opinion, 

 the bar ought not to be made to fall down, if the horse 

 strikes it. If the breaker or his helper be not prepared 

 to mount and take the necessary risk, they may put 

 the animal over by means of the driving reins and 

 leading rein, in the manner before described. The 

 bar may be bushed over with thorns. A bar, which 

 should be gradually raised, may be placed across the 

 stable-yard gateway, or other convenient passage, so 

 that the horses may get accustomed to jump it when 

 going to, and returning from exercise. Similar ex- 

 pedients with other kinds of fences may be adopted, as 

 the trainer sees fit. I need only add, that " made " 

 fences should be as long, from side to side, as possible, 

 and have wings if necessary. 



K 



