A lady's horse must be perfectly steady, and thoroughly trained, before
she attempts to put him to a leap. Leaping is beneficial, as it tends to
confirm the seat, and enables the rider more effectually to preserve her
balance, should she ever be mounted upon an unsteady, or vicious horse.
The skill in leaping consists principally, in the rider's own acute
anticipation of the horse's spring, and in participating in his
movements, going over with him, as a part of the horse's-self; she must
not, by being late, and hanging back, have to be jerked forward by the
spring; which operating at an angle of the person, pitches the rider
over the horse's head, before the animal's fore-quarters reach the
ground.
Preparatory to the leap, the rider should take up the snaffle rein, and
slacken the curb; because the snaffle acting in the corners of the
horse's mouth, lifts up his head, and allows him more freedom, whereas
the curb-bit acting lower down in the mouth, tends to draw the head and
chin inwards, towards the breast, and restrains his power of extension.
Leaps are of two kinds, the "standing" and the "flying." In the standing
leap, or leap over a height from a standing position; the horse raises
himself on his hind feet, and springs from his hind legs, throwing
himself over the object. The flying leap, is taken from any pace, it
differs from the standing leap, principally in agility, and in the horse
being more extended in his movements.
The position of the rider is to be governed in this, as in all other
cases, by the action of the horse; no weight should be borne on the
stirrup, the right leg must press strongly the middle pommel, and the
left, be closed to the saddle. The bridle should be held so as to offer
no check to the horse's movement, but should the horse show an
unwillingness to jump, or be inclined to swerve, it is prudent to keep
him firmly in hand, until the moment of his spring, when the tension on
the reins may be lessened.
_A standing jump._--The rider must press her leg close against the
saddle, she must animate the horse to jump, by gently lifting his head;
as he raises on his haunches for the leap, she should yield the reins,
to give him ample room to extend his neck and shoulders, and to exert
himself; as his fore-quarters ascend, the lady should lean slightly
forward, keeping her head upright and steady; as he springs, she resumes
her upright position, and as he descends, she inclines her body
backwards to balance herself; urging, and at the same time restraining
the horse, to induce him to collect, and fully recover himself upon his
legs.
_The flying leap._--In the flying leap, the seat is to be preserved, as
in the standing leap, but the horse's posture being more horizontal, the
lady need not lean forward as he raises; she must approach the leap in
such a manner, as neither to hurry or flurry the horse, but so as to
allow him a full view of the place he has to go over. Holding the
horse's head with the snaffle, with a firm but delicate hand, straight
to his jump, she brings him up at an animated pace. As he springs, she
must slightly yield the reins, as he descends, she must incline her body
backwards pressing her left leg firmly to the third crutch, and looking
straight to her front, she will retain her seat and balance immoveably;
she then resumes the tension of the reins; and the moment the horse
touches the ground, she should be prepared to use her whip if necessary,
to induce the horse to collect himself, to prevent him from stumbling or
falling.