THE HORSEMAN. 81 



backward and support him with the rein ; if, on the con- 

 trary, he comes to the ground with the hind feet first, the 

 rider must sit erect or incline the body forward and 

 check him when his fore feet are about to touch. 



After the rider can leap a single bar without having 

 his seat deranged, he should place three or four bars so 

 far apart as to admit of one or two jumps between each 

 one: afterwards close them (according to the reach of 

 the horse), and compel him to clear them all by a suc- 

 cession of leaps, and without an intermediate jump or 

 stride. This is the perfection of leaping. 



SECTION X. To Passage or Move the Horse Sidewise. 



The rider, to passage to the right at a walk, trot, or 

 canter, should sit well forward, clasp with the thighs, 

 bear the bridle hand up and to the right (in order that 

 the shoulder may precede the movement of the haunch- 

 es), and close the left leg, spur or whip behind the girth. 

 Vice versa, passaging to the left. 



Whenever a whip is carried, the point or lash should 

 be held downward toward his flank, and out of his sight, 

 lest it alarm or unnecessarily animate him. 



As some horses obey more readily the whip than the 

 spur, it may be carried in the left hand (the reins being 

 in the right hand), and applied gently to his flank for the 

 purpose of making him pass his croup to the right. If 

 the left leg is kept near during this operation, the horse, 



