100 HINTS ON HORSEIMANSHIP 



in England which is beyond the capacity of a 

 schooled jumper with natural ability. I remember 

 measuring the leap a horse of mine once made 

 without apparent effort, and out of a hand canter. 

 A rail four feet six inches was cleared in height, 

 and twenty-seven feet in distance. I believe a 

 horse has been kno^\'n to jump eight feet in 

 height, while the longest accredited jump is 

 thirty-seven feet. Taking such known capacity 

 into consideration, the biggest fence in the hunting 

 field is small in comparison. There is hardly 

 a ditch in Meath broader than twelve feet across 

 from bank to bank, and yet what a formidable 

 obstacle it looks ! But a bold horse that was 

 trained, and ridden by a bold rider, could 

 negotiate such a jump as this without difficulty. 

 But to develop the courage of a horse, he should 

 never know what a fall is. By this, I do not mean 

 that he shouldn't be allowed to stumble into a 

 blind ditch to teach him caution, but that he 

 should never be overfaced. By small beginnings, 

 and very slow advances, his courage and confidence 

 can be built up. He not only requires confidence 

 in himself, but also in his rider. He must get to 

 know by long experience that he is never asked to 

 perform what is beyond his powers, and if jumping 

 has always been a source of pleasure to him, and 

 not of pain, then he will not fail when put to a 

 supreme test. I think I am right in sajing that 

 the biggest jumps are made by four-year-old horses. 

 They are full of the vigour and courage of youth, 

 and have not learnt to fear a fall. The older they 

 get the more " canny " they become, because they 



