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:—1. 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,^[1] 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 : 1. 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