114 HINTS ON HORSEMANSHIP 



trot, and collected canter, it may be necessary to 

 give and take at every stride, and play upon the 

 horse's mouth like on the keys of a piano; 

 but at the faster paces, the gallop, and the 

 jump, the hands should be motionless. In jump- 

 ing, the horse must feel assured of complete free- 

 dom, and if on approaching a fence there is the 

 slightest movement of hand or wrist, the boldest 

 horse can be turned into a confirmed refuser. 

 Here, again, it is a question of confidence. The 

 rider that is not quite sure of himself starts 

 " niggling." These movements are usually the 

 involuntary contraction of highly strung nerves, 

 and that nervousness is passed down the reins to 

 the horse's mouth, and from thence to his brain, 

 quicker than any wireless message. The horse is 

 extremely susceptible to the slightest suggestion of 

 fear on the rider's part, and that is why a horse 

 will jump with some riders, and not with others. 

 The rule is quite clear, once it is understood. 

 Let your wrists and fingers have all the play 

 necessary for a sympathetic feel on the horse's 

 mouth at all slow paces, but at the fast paces, and 

 particularly when approaching a fence, then your 

 hands should be as still and firm as a rock. 



Mastery 



There is another saying which is often mis- 

 understood by a great many people. " You must 

 show a horse that you are master, never let him 

 defeat you." 



