128 



HOllSEJiIANSHIP FOK WOMEN. 



knee, and pretty close to the bodj, so that they may 

 liave room to yield, and that the sudden thrusting out 

 of the horse's head may not jerk you forward in the 

 saddle, in which ease the powerful impulsion of the 

 hind-legs might pitch yon out altogether. The advice 

 is often given in books to lean forward and then back- 

 ward in the leap, but the fact is that beginners, if they 

 lean forward intentionally, seldom get back in time to 

 avoid the shock above alluded to, and teachers, there- 

 fore, as well as friendly coaches, often call out " lean 

 back" as a lady nears the bar, which results in giv- 

 ing the learner an awkward though perhaps not un- 

 safe manner. The fact is that there is no necessity to 

 try to lean forward, as the rising of the horse will bring 

 you involuntarily into a position perpendicular to the 

 ground, while the play of thigh and waist to prevent 

 being tossed up is of the same kind as that in the 

 gallop, only proportionately increased, and it will be- 

 come instinctive if leaping is begun moderately and 

 carried on progressively as already recommended. In 

 coming down you can hardly lean too far back. The 

 left foot should not be thrust forward, but kept straight, 

 or drawn a very little back and held close against the 

 horse's side;, the stirrup, into which the foot is pushed 

 to the instep, being one or two holes shorter than for 

 ordinary riding. On approaching the fence, be particu- 

 lar to do nothing to distract the animal's attention, as, 

 for instance, by ejaculations or nervous movements of 



