HORSES THE FASTEST FERRYMEN. 197 



" Water-jumping is effected on quite a different 

 plan. Figuratively speaking, we cannot ride too 

 fast at wide water, and for these reasons: horses 

 do not take it willingly^, at least but few do, and 

 unless ridden very freely at it are apt to refuse; 

 but as a reason more important than this, we want 

 a strong impetus to carry a horse over wide 

 water, and the faster we go at it the less elevation 

 he will make in his jump ; a horse should skim 

 water like an oyster-shell from a boy's hand : the 

 cannon-ball being impelled by a foreign power, 

 requires a certain elevation to go a given distance; 

 but an animal being impelled by his oivn powers, 

 wastes that in height that is wanted for width. 

 We do occasionally meet with horses apt to refuse 

 wide water from timidity only; such, if driven 

 too forcibly at it, become more alarmed still, and 

 will, under such circumstances, refuse to a cer- 

 tainty; such must be coaxed up to it, making 

 the pace as good as we can at the same time. 

 Very timid horses, however, seldom make very 

 brilliant leapers at anything. We should observe 

 one thing, however, in riding at water, let the 

 pace be ever so great : collect your horse before 

 coming to it ; never let him, as it were, stride up 

 to it ; or he will not take off in the right place ; 

 and if the taking off is at all rotten, he will pro- 

 bably flounder into it, or not clear it : if I may 

 use a figurative term, 'spin' him up to it well 

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