LEAPING. 1 01 



the taking off for the leap is generally good and 

 sound, than they can cover in ploughed and marshy 

 districts, where they have not that advantage, 

 from the less firm state of the soil. We shall now 

 endeavour to point out the form most likely to con- 

 stitute a good leaper. 



The very worm that crawls on the ground first 

 carries its contraction from the hinder parts, in 

 order to throw its fore parts forward; and it is 

 chiefly from the ms a tergo^ or strength of back, 

 and hinder quarters, that the power of leaping in a 

 horse is derived. It must, however, be admitted 

 that oblique shoulders give him a great advantage, 

 by enabling him to extend his fore quarters ; but 

 if his loins be loose and weak, and his hinder-legs 

 ill placed, with weak hocks, he cannot make, in 

 any one''s hands, a safe and perfect leaper. But the 

 position of his head has something to do with it. 

 A plank placed in equilibrio cannot rise at one end 

 unless it sinks at the other ; and although a horse 

 in light harness cannot, for appearance' sake, carry 

 his head too high, provided he be obedient to the 

 rein, the hunter should carry his low. A colt, 

 running wild, never raises his head when he leaps, 

 but lowers it, and so should the hunter ; and he is 

 always less liable to fall in galloping over a country 

 when he carries his head low ; likewise, in horses 

 with lengthy shoulders, the seat of the rider is 

 rather benefited than injured by it. 



The sort of fence that stops hunters more than 

 any other description of obstacle, is a wide brook ; 



