LEAPING. 



yards short of the proper spot at which he ought to take off ; 

 he will then have to jump three yards " bigger," or chance 

 an accident by taking off two yards too near. The longer 

 the stride, the greater will be the tendency to this error. 

 Consequently, other things being equal, a short striding horse 

 will be safer over a "cramped " country than a long striding 

 one. Also, we may say that no horse merits the title of "a 

 safe conveyance," unless, when coming up to a jump, he is 

 careful to regulate the length of his stride, so as to take off 

 correctly. 



Effect of Pace and Speed on the Leap. — The 



running jump is usually executed at the canter or gallop. 

 A few horses can leap (especially height) cleverly from the 

 trot, which is a useful accomplishment in the hunter ; for it 

 may enable him when in a difficult position (as when 

 jumping out of a lanej to utilise a "run" which would be 

 too short for the longer stride of the canter or gallop. 

 Besides, at these paces there is only one period of the stride 

 at which the animal can take off (see preceding paragraph) ; 

 but in the trot there are two such periods, namely, when 

 the respective diagonals come to the ground. A horse, 

 however, cannot jump so freely and "big" from the trot as 

 from the canter or gallop, in each stride of which, the hind legs 

 are brought nearly together under the horse's body {see Figs. 

 86 and lOo), ready, if need be, to change the pace into the 

 leap {see Fig. ii6). In the trot, each hind limb moves 

 harmoniously with its diagonal fore leg ; but in the opposite 

 direction to its hind fellow. 



In examining the various kinds of leap of the horse, 

 we must remember that he has a long distance (that from 



