THE STANDING LEAP. 141 



of itself, materially assist the high jumper. I regret to say 

 that I have no exact data to go on ; but my own experience 

 leads me to conclude that the majority of big water jumpers 

 will be found among well-bred horses. As the height or 

 distance over which the body is propelled by the limbs 

 depends on the speed at which they are straightened out ; 

 we shall find that a horse which is quick in his movements, 

 other things being equal, will jump higher and broader than 

 another which is slower. For this reason, the thorough- 

 bred, properly selected and trained, will make the best of 

 all jumpers, over height as well as over length. 



The Standing Leap consists of a rear by w^hich 

 the fore legs are raised off the ground, and of the forward 

 projection of the body by the straightening out of the 

 hind legs, as in the running jump. To make the fact that 

 this rearing action always takes place in the leap, no matter 

 how fast is the pace at which the animal is going, still more 

 graphic, I give in PI. 16 a photograph of a mare "taking 

 off," at racing speed, in front of the last obstacle of a hurdle- 

 race of which she was the winner. 



