On Horsemanship

leap across an obstacle; or, take a flying leap from off a bank;114 or, jump down from a height, the rider must teach and train himself and his

t this is not mere repetition. In the former case, we confined ourselves to advising the purchaser before he concluded his bargain to test whether the horse coul

merely, but a far larger space than requisite; and for the future there will be no need for an actual blow, the mere sight of some one coming up behind will suffice to make him leap. As soon as he is accustomed to leap in this way you may mount him and put him first at smaller and then at larger trenches. At the moment of the spring be ready to apply the spur; and so too

slope for a fast pace. And as to the apprehension, which some people entertain, that a horse may dislocate the shoulder in galloping down an incline, it sh

ch his rider off. So again in pulling him up short121 the rider should lean back; and thus escape a shock. In leaping a ditch or tearing up a steep incline, it is no bad plan to let go the reins and take hold of the mane, so that the animal may not fe

lace and sometimes in another, and should sometimes be shorter and sometimes longer in duration. T

he combined efforts of two horsemen.122 One of them will play the part of fugitive, retreating helter-skelter over every sort of ground, with lance reversed and plying the butt end. The other pursues, with buttons on his javelins and his lance similarly handled.123 Whenever he comes within javelin range he lets fly at the retreating foeman with his blunted missiles; or whenever within spear thrust he deal

er these circumstances it is well to bear in mind that so long as the skirmisher is close to his own party,125 valour and discretion alike dictate to wheel and charge in the vanguard might and main; but when h

never he does as you wish, to show him some kindness in return, and when he is disobedient to chastise him. This principle, though capable of being stated in a few words, is one which holds good throughout the whole of horsemanship. As, for instance, a horse will more