46 XENOPHON ON HORSEMANSHIP. 



his own horse, and I shall describe the right 

 method of instruction. 



With a horse that has no experience what- 

 ever in leaping, take him with the leading 

 rein loose and leap across the ditch before 

 him; then draw the rein tight to make him 

 jump over. If he refuses, let somebody with 

 a whip or stick lay it on pretty hard ; he will 

 then jump over not merely the proper dis- 

 tance but a great deal more than is required. 

 He will never need a blow after that, but will 

 jump the minute he sees anybody coming up 

 behind him. When he is used to taking a 

 leap in this way, let the rider mount and put 

 him first at small and then at larger ditches, 

 pricking him with the spur^^ just as he is 

 about to leap. Prick him with the spur in 

 the same way in teaching him to leap up 

 and to leap down. If the horse uses his 

 whole body at once for all these, it will be 

 much safer for him and for his rider than if 

 his quarters are not well gathered in as he 

 leaps or jumps up or down. 



Going down hill must be taught him at 

 first on soft ground, and finally, when he gets 

 used to it, he will like to run down much 



