The morning call., 1894-07-08


as heartily as Love at a locksmith. The
topmost wire was not more than three feet
from the ground, but it was as effective
barrier for my companion as though it had
been. the great wall of China. She was
not sure that her horse had ever been
trained to jump. and if be would take the
fence she did not feel at all certain that
she could sit out the leap. She would be
afraid to try il.
Twas not anxious to assist her TO an ac-
cident, so we rode on until we came to a
place where the fence sagged. Then
held the wire down while she led the ami
mails over it. and we continued our jour-
ney. A few minutes later, riding over a
muddy road, | saw her horse Jump over
three large puddles In quick succession.
He made each leap with the ease and pre-
cision of clOckwoTk, and she sat through it
without sweTving, but when | called her
attention to 1t she was much surprised.
She had had no idea that be was jumping
would have been very much alarmed
had she known it. Even after that expert
ence, however, could not get her courage
up to the point of taking a fence. She
was afraid to try ii.
1t is surprising to me that so few Cali
f0rnian riders venture leaping. 1t so often
happens, in this new country, that the
most charming rides are through pretty
byeways, that stretch invitiDgly back
from the dusty roads, only separated from
them 0y low wire fences, mere hints at
barriers, and yet whOe parties Of eQueSt-
rlanS will 60 pounding along on the nigh
way because they are not accustomed tn
leRping. / once attended an eQuestTienne
Communicative the name-and saw half
a dozen riders baked by hurdle less than
two feet high. Two horses refused it.
One rider was unseated in the leap and
one was caught by an attendant just in
time, one horse was led over it, and one
took the barrier after being brought TO it
the second time, the rider kept her balance
and was awarded the prize!
And yet they were all good riders; along
a level road any one of them would dash
off at a speed that !, for instance. would
not care TO have nv mount maintain, and
would sit it sQuarely and gracefully.
Here in California, where our long, rain
less summers make il possible for vacation
trips to be indefinitely prolonged, every
lover of saddle travel should be able to slt
a leap, manage a horse while the animal is
swimming, and. in word, be equal to any
or all of the little emergencies that arise
on 'cross-country trips, and before which
the average woman on horseback Is apt to
turn back, baked.
To sit a leap is, in reality. as easy a
matter as it looks difficult. 1t is by no
means as hard an accomplishment to ac-
0uire as is rising 10 the trot, or even main
tanning balance IN the gallop; but there is
no other feat of hOrsemanship that gives
woman quite such an air of savOir-faire
or brings out such hearty plaudiis from
spectators.
If YOUR horse is unaccustomed TO leap
ing the first step is TO teach him. Most
horses take to it naturally enough, some
will require a little cOaxinE, and once in
while COu will encounter an animal that
l. do 70 4ol q q Inn o. W. ~
a barrier
If you have mount who never has been
accustomed to leaping you will find it an
amusing and pleasanttask toiustruct him.
Arrange the scene of your lessons so that
you do not have TO take him back and
forth across the bar; this he soon comes to
consider nonsense. The horse has great
idea of his own dignity and is apt to grow
sulky if be thinks be is being made fool
Of. II you have two gates within con-
venent distance arrange your barrier
across one, take him out through the other
and bring him back again. The barrier
must also be a genuine one, else he may
try to go around ii, and thus acquire the
notion of running out" his fences, dan
gerous trick. Have your bar few inches
high, at first, lead him to it at
walk, and let him step over it. He
NAV. refuse to DO this at first, out If
you go over it yourself and coax him with
a little grain or something he is fond of,
he will soon come. Then pat and praise
him and try it again, raising the bar by de-
grees until it is a good step for him, and
peTsevere until be will step over it freely
every time he approaches 1t. When he
will do this he has done enough for that
lesson.
Next day mount him and bring him to
the bar at a walk, having the rail only five
or six inches from the ground. or, if he
objects very much, even merely lying on
the ground. When you have brought him
to step over it make the round again, and
while you are doing this let someone raise
the bar few inches. Keep this up until
you have the barrier too high for him con-
vpniently to step over. Next day bring
walk. and urge him to the leap.
Do this when you are returning from
a ride, and let the barrier be near the
stable. You may have trouble at this
juncture, but do not give up. Let him be
shown his grain on the other side. or an
apple, if be likes them. Do not whip him
or be in any way harsh, but let him see
that you are in earnest about his taking
the bar and after time he will probably
come to it. Be ready for him then. AS
you feel him gathering himself for the
spring, lean forward in your saddle, and
MS he comes down on the other Side'lean
backwards, bringing your knee against the
brace your feet well in The stirrups. Now
praise your pony and show hin you sp-
precate his cleverness; he has done quite
enough for that day.
He won't forget his lesson, however, and
next time you may bring him TO the bar at
a trot and he will not refuse it. Then try
it at a canter and finally at gallor, until
you can see that he expects it and does
not object TO ii. You can even have him
take the leap as you ride away from home,
but until he has learned his lesson thor
oughy, and you feel quite at home in the
performance, do not essay high leaping.
The bar should not be over, say, two or
three feet high.
Your own part in the educational effort
can be going on at the same time. II you
have managed TO sit the standing jump
you need have no fears for the running
leap, which is really easier to sit, nor
need you take particular pains to lean tor
ward on the rise. The motion of the horse
as he makes his spring will naturally
carry you forward, but bear in mind that
you must lean backward as he comes
down, otherwise the powerful swing Of
the highs as he settles to his stride may
pitch you headIong over his ears. How
ever you may hold your Teins in ordinary
riding make it an invarlable rule In
approaching leap to put bOtn hands
on the Ieins. Unless yOu do this you will
lnvoluntarily raise your Tree hand and
arm as the horse rises, giving you an in
secure as well as awkward seat. More
over, such raising of the arm among eX-
pert riders Is a signal that the leap is a
bad one and warning TO those behind to
keep off. Ii YOU throw up your hand, and
you can hardly help doing il, you may
manage to throw whole party into con-