114 LEAPING. 



the fence be cleared. If the obstacle be '* stiff" and the 

 horse hit it with his knee or fore arm, he will probably fall ; 

 but if any part of the leg below the knee strike it, he 

 will generally get over all right, or with a '*peck" at most. 

 Hence, a clever horse will try to avoid an accident by raising 

 his knees well out of harm's way. Another danger consists 

 in the horse catching the fence with his hind legs, which he 

 will best avoid by bending them as much as possible at 

 the stifles and hocks (Fig. 203). Consequently, the clever 

 jumper, the moment his hind legs quit the ground when 

 taking off, will tuck them under him as if they were on 

 springs suddenly let go, after having been drawn out. The 

 slovenly fencer, on the contrary, will drag his hind legs 

 after him, at the imminent risk of catching them in the 

 fence and falling. In the high jump, the animal should 

 keep his hind legs well bent until he is clear of the 

 obstacle (Fig. 206), so that, if need be, as might occur in 

 the case of an unexpected wide drain being met with at 

 the landing side, he may strike the fence with his hind 

 legfs, and thus srive himself a fresh forward impulse. 



When a horse is suspended in the air during a leap, he 

 may move his limbs or retain them in one position, according 

 to what he feels to be most conducive to his safety. 



Landing over a Jump. — The prettiest style, and safest 

 manner, of landing in the leap, is for the two fore legs to 

 be kept straightened out and comparatively close together 

 (Figs. 198 and 199, and 201 and 202) until they are near the 

 ground, when one of them comes down, and is followed by 

 the other, which is placed a little distance in front of it. This 

 method of landing gives the impression to the observer that 

 the horse comes down on both fore feet at the same time. If 

 we compare these figures with Fig. 189, we shall feel con- 

 vinced that the plan of landing with one fore leg considerably 

 bent, as in the latter style, is not so safe as in the former ; for 

 in the event of any falter being made by the supporting fore 

 l^gy the other fore leg will be better prepared to save the 



