242 THE HORSE. 



ing and rousing, and the horse must go pretty fast at them, as also 

 must he at all wide jumps, including water in all its forms. One 

 essential is, that the horse shall have confidence in his rider ; for 

 if he thinks he may turn to the right or left he will most probably 

 do so, unless he is very fond of jumping. Nervous men commu- 

 nicate their feelings to their horses, and though it may be difficult 

 to explain how it is done, there is no doubt of the fact. It is re- 

 markable how soon horses find out what kind of man they carry, 

 and how they alter under different hands. This is partly owing 

 to a mismanagement of the mouth, but in great measure also to 

 the trepidation of the rider. Unless, therefore, he has full confi- 

 dence in his own courage, he need never expect his horse to go 

 steadily and straight at his fences. The collecting is much easier 

 than the management of the bit at the leap itself, for there are two 

 opposite things to be done, and the delicate point is to hit the mo- 

 ment of change from one to the other to a nicety. The first is to 

 " catch hold of the horse's head," as it is called — that is, to bear 

 more or less upon the mouth, pull the horse on his haunches and 

 rouse him, either by voice, heel, or whip. This lasts till the mo- 

 ment of the effort made to rise over the obstacle, when the head 

 should be released, so that the horse may have all his bodily powers 

 at his command. If the head is confined the haunches do not act 

 fully, because in making the spring the head is protruded, and pain 

 is given by the bit if it is still held fast ; and hence, to avoid the 

 pain, the extension does not take place, the leap is not made with 

 sufficient spring or power, and the horse alights too near the ditch, 

 if there is one, or possibly in it. But in releasing the head judg- 

 ment is required, for if the rein is too loose the horse is apt to 

 alight in such a position that he is " all abroad," and without great 

 help he will often fall ; hence, most good performers, though they 

 do not absolutely confine the head, yet they keep a very gentle and 

 delicate hold of the mouth, and not only thus prevent the horse 

 over-extending himself, but are also prepared to assist him if he is 

 inclined to fall. This is the finished style of riding, and is only in 

 the power of a man with a good seat as well as good hands. Both 

 are wanted, because without the former it is impossible to avoid 

 '■ riding the bridle" — that is, holding on by it as well as by the 

 saddle; and without good hands that delicate management of the 

 bridle which I have attempted to describe is impracticable. What 

 is called " lifting" the horse is sometimes attempted with the bit, 

 but I do not recognise its utility. When a horse is likely to touch 

 the top bar of a gate, or in any way to use too small an effort, a 

 stroke of the whip down the shoulder is the best lift. Rousing 

 and collecting are quite distinct from lifting, which I believe to be 

 a myth altogether. In creeping, good hands and quietness in the 

 saddle are the chief elements of success, and without them both, 



