RIDING TO HOUNDS 7 



thrown on his flank with no chance to save 

 himself, and you will probably be crushed 

 under him. 



In selecting your jump, pay more at- 

 tention to the "take off" and "landing" 

 than to the height of the obstacle. It is 

 easier for a horse to jump five feet from 

 a good "take off" than four feet from a 

 bad one. Light, Dust 



The question of light is an important and Wind 

 one in jumping. Horses have not par- 

 ticularly good eyesight and jump more 

 safely with the light shining from behind. 

 To jump directly against the rays of a 

 setting or rising sun is to take a chance. 

 Strong shadows on the ground are often 

 mistaken for holes by horses and cause 

 them to shy. 



To jump in a cloud of dust is also dan- 

 gerous. High grass, or other vegetation, 

 growing against a fence tends to make 

 a horse underrate its height, and also 

 makes a "blind" "take off". 



On very windy days extra care is needed 

 in the field. Horses are peculiarly sensi- 



