LEAPING. 89 



saddle, and the reins yielded to the horse, so that 

 the rider can just distinguish a slight correspondence 

 between her own hand and the horse's mouth. The 

 animations thus produced, and the invitation thus given, 

 will make the horse rise. As his fore quarters ascend, 

 the lady is to advance forward ; the back being bent 

 inward, and the head kept upright and steady. • A 

 moment before the horse's hind legs quit the ground, 

 the body should be inclined backward ; the rider 

 taking care not to bear heavily on the reins, lest the 

 horse force her hand, and pull her forward on his neck, 

 or over his head, as he descends. When the leap is 

 cleared, the rider should bring the horse together, if at 

 all disunited, and resume her usual position. 



In the flying leap, the seat is to be preserved as in 

 the standing leap ; except, that it is needless, and, in- 

 deed, unwise, to advance the body as the horse rises : 

 because, in the flying leap, the horse's position, espe- 

 cially in a low leap, is more horizontal than when he 

 rises at the bar from a halt ; and there is great danger 

 of the rider being thrown, if she lean forv/ard, in case 

 the horse suddenly check himself and refuse the leap ; 

 which circumstance occasionally happens. The waist 

 should be brought forward, and the body suffered to 

 take that inclination backward which will be produced 

 by the spring forward of the horse. The horse's head 

 is to be guided towards the bar, and the reins yielded 

 to him as he advances. 



