LANDING OVER A JUMP. 137 



leg, the other fore leg will be better prepared to save the 

 horse from a fall, if at that moment it be straightened out, and 

 not bent. 



It is evident that, for safety, the knee of the leg upon 

 which the animal lands, should be as straight as possible ; for 

 if the knee "gives," the horse will almost certainly fall. 

 Hence, we m.ay regard the condition of being "over at the 

 knees" {^see p. 217) as a grave defect in the jumper, especially 

 if he be required to go fast. 



As a rule, when landing over a jump, the hind foot which 

 first comes down, has been made way for by the fore foot 

 of the same side, somewhat beyond the print of which it is 

 placed. The other hind foot and the other fore foot act in 

 a similar manner. We may see from Figs. 147 to 151, that 

 a horse "gets quickly away from a jump" by the raising 

 of the forehand, which is accomplished by the straightening 

 out of the fore limbs. The rider should, therefore, avoid 

 throwing any undue weight on the forehand at this 

 moment. It sometimes happens that a horse "over-reaches " 

 (strikes a fore leg with a hind foot) when landing over a 

 jump, on account of the rider being jerked on to the animal's 

 neck ; the injured fore leg having been prevented from getting 

 out of the way of its hind fellow by the surcharge of the 

 forehand. 



A horse should not land with his head and neck bent, 

 as might be caused by the action of a severe bit which he is 

 afraid to "face" ; for when the neck is bent, the muscles* 



* The chief of these muscles is the levator humeri, which is attached to 

 the top of the head and to the upper third of the humerus. The nearer its 

 points of attachment are brought together, the less power has it to draw the 

 limb forward. 



