ACTION AT THE LEAP. 253 



ward iinder the body, with particularly quick recovery after 

 having been straightened out. Their action, like that of 

 the forehand, should be characterised by the machine-like 

 regularity of their forward and backward sweep. The limbs 

 should move in such perfect accord one with the other, that 

 there should be the least possible rise and fall of the fore- 

 hand ; for if the weight be depressed at one moment, it will 

 have to be raised during the next, by an expenditure of force 

 which will be wasted as far as progression is concerned. 



Leaping. — In Chapter XIII. we have seen that the " take- 

 off," in the leap consists in the raising of the forehand and 

 in the propulsion of the body. Hence, at that moment, 

 the animal should have his head raised and somewhat 

 drawn back, so as to "lighten" the forehand, for which 

 object, and in order to be able to fully bend the hind legs, he 

 should have them well under him. To obtain the maximum 

 effect of propulsion, the horse should straighten his hind leo-s 

 to their utmost extent ; and to clear the object, if it be one 

 that is likely to tax his powers to " negotiate," he should 

 raise his knees well and should bend them as much as he can. 

 The instant the hind feet quit the ground, they should be 

 drawn up as quick as possible and close to the body, so that, 

 in high jumping, they may not catch in the fence, but 

 be ready to save the animal from a fall in the event of an 

 accident, and to enable him to land in safety. On clearing 

 the obstacle, the fore feet should be brought well to the 

 front, and as they respectively come to the ground, their 

 knees should be quite straight. The head should be some- 

 what raised and the muzzle drawn in a little, so as to bring the 

 weight back, and to enable the horse to see where he is goino- 

 to place his feet. 



