LEARNING. 37 



iake your first leap over a bar or pole similar 

 to those used in schools. The horse sees the 

 daylight under it, knows well that it is a 

 sham, goes at it unwillingly, does not half rise 

 to it, drops his heels when in the air, and 

 knocks it down with a crash, — only to do the 

 same thing a second time, and a third, and 

 a fourth also, if urged to do that which he 

 despises. 



Choose a nice little hurdle about two feet 

 high, well interwoven with gorse ; trot your 

 horse gently up to it, and let him see what it 

 is ; then, turn him back and send him at it, 

 sitting close glued to your saddle, with a firm 

 but gentle grip of your reins, and your hands 

 held low. To throw up the hands is a habit 

 with all beginners, and should at once be 

 checked. Fifty to one you will stick on all 

 right, and, if you come off, why it's many a 

 good man's case, and you must regard it as 

 one of the chances of war. 



The next day you may have the gorse raised 

 another half-foot above the hurdle, and so on 

 by degrees, until you can sit with ease over a 

 jump of five feet. Always bear in mind to 



