i8 Modern Riding and Horse Education 



in^ their turn at a fence out hunting and to strike 

 other horses, its all-round value is doubtful. Im- 

 agine one's feelings at the covert side if one's horse 

 did the " courbette " spontaneously, and the lan- 

 guage of one's friends if he began the " croupade " 

 in a narrow gate-way! I think plain people and 

 ordinary horsemen will agree with me that it is 

 better to have an animal whom no power could in- 

 duce either to rear or kick, than one trained to these 

 evil practices. 



From a recent conversation with a Spanish and 

 a French officer concerning " show jumping," I 

 learn that the thirst for extremely fancy obstacles 

 is the outcome of some years' training in this par- 

 ticular sphere abroad. Fresh jumps are invented 

 directly horses become clever at those in use ; let us 

 hope that the limit of the animal's powers will 

 shortly be reached. I was, however, informed by 

 the Commandant of Saumur that the progressive 

 training of horses and riders for jumping had al- 

 most entirely eliminated accidents. 



What we in England should aim at now is the ap- 

 plication of scientific principles to the ordinary 

 teaching of riding and the training of horses, and 



