HOW TO TEACH THE COLT TO JUMP 59 



so that to the breeder of hunters the early and thorough 

 tuition of the stock is essentially an important question. 



The age at which the training should commence is 

 a point upon which there is a great diversity of opinion, 

 some contending that you cannot commence at too early 

 an age, others that it is injudicious to begin in foalhood. 

 My candid opinion is that, provided the foal be a strong 

 one and bred for a hunter, you cannot begin its jumping 

 exercises too early. The jumping exercises I suggest 

 during foalhood, whilst it is running with its dam, should 

 be effected over a series of fences about eighteen inches 

 high, such as the mother can walk over easily. They 

 should be situated where the mother will be compelled 

 to walk when leaving the box in the morning and re- 

 turning at night. I recommend two jumps only, which 

 should be movable and well padded with old sacks and 

 straw, etc. The height of these jumps should be 

 gradually increased. 



These early lessons develop and strengthen the 

 muscles, and create in the animal a sense of security 

 and confidence which prepares it for the more formidable 

 tasks it will have to face when it reaches maturity — 

 that is, when we have to train a colt who has to be 

 forced to jump, owing to lack of previous training. 

 (I do not mean being ridden.) 



