"MADE" FENCES. 221 



his best to avoid fallinof. He should be ridden fast 

 at water, as a certain amount of speed is necessary 

 for jumping length ; but he should not be taken at full 

 gallop, as he would then be too much extended to 

 raise himself in his spring. If the correct pace could 

 be gauged to a nicety, I should say it is just a shade 

 faster than a hand gallop. Horses, as a rule, jump 

 water badly, perhaps for the very good reason that 

 they seldom get schooled at this kind of obstacle. 



A line of '' made " fences in a field or paddock would 

 have to be comparatively close together, say, with 

 intervals of not less than 30 yards between them ; 

 although double that distance would be much better. 

 A lady riding over these obstacles could hardly help 

 going at the same speed, and, therefore, there would 

 be but little opportunity for teaching her how she 

 ought to regulate her pace for each of them, which 

 would not be the case if they were a quarter of a mile 

 or so apart. One advantage of riding over a line 

 of "made" jumps is, that it strengthens a rider's seat, 

 for no sooner has she landed over one fence, than she 

 must be ready to negotiate the next one. She should 

 remember to keep her hands low down and as steady 

 as possible, carefully avoiding shifting in the saddle, 

 flourishing her whip, checking her mount with the 

 reins, shouting to him, or committing any other act 

 which is likely to distract his attention from the fence 

 in front of him. The horse given to the pupil to 

 ride should be an experienced hunter, and, in that 

 case, she may safely trust him to carry her over the 



