THE APPROACH 85 



good strides will just do it nicely, and that each 

 stride will have to be slightly longer than the one 

 preceding it, so that by the time he has reached 

 the take off, he has got his horse full of momentum, 

 and is in a position to clear anything that may be 

 the other side. 



Such a condition would be perfection, but we 

 cannot expect to do as well as that every time, 

 even on perfectly trained horses. But we have a 

 good deal of latitude wherein to rectify mistakes. 



This spot is where 

 the decision 

 is made 



Canter up to here 



A 

 lastrfde 2"."* 3"^ Stride <^' 



I '-Stftde Z 



Feet 6' 6' 6' I 7' 9 K) € 



V 31' yi 



Feet 



Diagram VIII 



For instance, we needn't make three strides; we 

 can do it nearly as well with two. Supposing 

 we have got a little too close with our first stride, 

 then we can make the second a shorter one, or 

 make two shorts. In the latter case, momentum 

 would be lost, which would be of no importance 

 if we knew exactly what was the other side. The 

 principle, I hope, is clear. One, two, three, over. 

 That is it, in a nutshell. Sometimes we do it 

 one, two, over, and sometimes even one, over. But 

 the best, and what is necessary for a big fence is, 

 one, two, three, over. 



