148 Leaping. 



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 be- 

 fore 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, 

 indeed, unwise, to advance the body as the horse 

 rises : because, in the flying leap, the horse's position, 

 especially 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 

 forward, 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 



