# Notes on equitation and horse training/Question 21

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## XXI. HOW YOUNG HORSES ARE TAUGHT TO JUMP.

Jumping when at liberty.—Young horses may be taught to jump when at liberty or on the longe.
Jumping at liberty is ordinarily practiced in a straight chute, in which are placed several obstacles—at least one ditch and one bar. The horse is led quietly to one end of the chute and caught at the other end by men who stop him without frightening him and then offer him oats as a reward. Near each obstacle is stationed a man with a longeing whip ready to urge horses that hold back and hesitate; but the use of the whip should not be abused as it bewilders the animals and after a few lessons is ordinarily no longer required.
Jumping at liberty produces horses keen and straight on their jumps. The drawback is that the animals jump too quickly and acquire only a certain amount of skill; for, instead of observing the obstacles that they are taking, they have only one idea and that is to get out of the chute. The system is especially suitable to train horses for steeplechasing.
If the jumps in the chute are high, it will be better not to send young horses through until after they have had several preliminary lessons on the longe.
Jumping on the longe.—Jumping on the longe is a perfect lesson to train a horse for obstacles. Drilled by this method, the horse is cool and clever and forms the habit of observing the obstacle. It is the best system for service mounts and hunters.
This lesson may be given in the hall or in the open and in the following manner:
​High jumps.—Place a bar on the ground. Holding the longe in one hand and the snaffle reins in the other, lead the horse and step over the bar with him several times in succession in both directions. When the horse no longer shows hesitation, move away from him a little, put him on a circle and make him cross the bar on the longe. Later the bar is gradually raised.
To give the lesson properly, it is necessary:
(1) To let the horse assume, at a short distance from the bar, whatever gait suits him, and immediately after he jumps to make him resume the original gait of the circle.
(2) To advance a step or two toward the obstacle and to open the fingers, so that the longe may slip through the hand while the horse is approaching his jump and will not be too taut when he leaps; he must never be hampered, but must have complete liberty.
(3) To take up the horse on the longe again gently, return him to the circle and to the original gait.
It is a good plan to practice the horse in jumping on the longe at a walk before trying him at the trot and gallop. At the walk the horse can best estimate the jump and the amount of effort necessary to clear it; at the walk he also learns how best to assist himself with his head and neck. Jumping at the other gaits then becomes less difficult.
Broad jumps.—The method of procedure and the precautions to be taken are the same as for high jumps. Begin with very easy ditches and progress to broader and more difficult ones. The first time do not prevent the horse from stopping to examine the ditch. He will feel the ground, bring up his hind legs little by little, and after much hesitation will finally clear the ditch. This feeling for firm ground is allowed on the first trials only, and as soon as the first apprehension has disappeared, any halting in front of the obstacle must be energetically corrected. Young horses are much more disposed to hesitate at breadth than height.
​Jumping mounted.—After horses have been trained in jumping at liberty and on the longe, they are made to jump mounted.
At first they must be in the snaffle bridle. Always begin with insignificant obstacles. In the riding hall, place the bar on the ground and afterwards raise it gradually according to the confidence shown by men and horses. Out of doors, start with very easy jumps and work up gradually to the class of obstacles that every service mount should clear.