198 JUMPING. 



increasing it. It is better .for him to diminish it a little, when 

 the horse extends his head and neck to jump. In other words, 

 the horse, not the rider, takes this bearing. 



Some horses jump best if they have a good hold of the bit, 

 when coming up to the fence, especially if they are going fast. 

 Others require to be ridden with a slack rein, so that they may 

 take the necessary spring. Nevertheless, in order to be certain 

 that a horse will jump, we should firmly close our legs and feel 

 his mouth, for otherwise he can very easily refuse. It is of 

 course understood that the reins should be slackened a little 

 the moment he is taking off. If the reins are slackened too 

 much, he will often jump stickily or refuse, and if we slacken 

 the reins too late, we will prevent him jumping, or will hamper 

 his. movements. 



The hands, therefore, ought to do three things : — i. Support 

 the horse up to the moment he takes off 2. Give him his 

 head during the time he is clearing the obstacle. 3. Feel the 

 snaffle,* so that we may lightly get him into hand the 

 moment he lands. 



The legs of the rider ought to support the horse during the 

 whole time — -namely : i. Before leaping, so as to press him 

 up and make him jump. 2. During the leap, in order to 

 make him get his hind legs under him, so that he may not 

 hit the fence. 3. After the leap, in order to support the hind 

 legs when they come down and relieve the fore legs. Finally, 

 when the legs are thus supported they will keep the rider in a 

 good position. 



The pluck and confidence of the rider plays a large part 

 in jumping. If he comes up to the fence without having 

 decided to clear it, the chances are that he will remain on 

 this side of it. 



It is said that the horse understands the feelings of the 



* I use only the snaffle when jumping, and I employ this curb only to 

 regulate the speed between the fences. 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



