In riding-schools, ladies who never intend to hunt, are frequently
taught to leap the bar. The practice is certainly beneficial; as it
tends to confirm the seat, and enables the rider more effectually to
preserve her balance, should she ever be mounted on an unsteady or
vicious horse.
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Leaps are taken, either standing or _flying_, over a bar, which is so
contrived as to fall, when touched by the horse's feet, if he do not
clear it: it is placed at a short distance from the ground, at first;
and raised, by degrees, as the rider improves. The standing leap, which
is practised first, the horse takes from the halt, close to the bar. The
flying leap is taken from any pace, and is easier than the standing
leap, although the latter is considered the safer of the two to begin
with; as, from the steadiness with which it is made by a trained horse,
the master or assistant can aid the pupil at the slightest appearance of
danger.
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The position of the rider is to be governed in this, as in all other
cases, by the action of the horse. No weight is to be borne on the
stirrup; for, in fact, pressure on the stirrup will tend to raise the
body, rather than keep it close to the saddle. The legs--particularly
the right one--must be pressed closely against the saddle, and the
reins yielded to the horse, so that the rider can just distinguish a
slight correspondence between her own hand and the horse's mouth. The
animations thus produced, and the invitation thus given, will make the
horse rise. As his fore quarters ascend, the lady is to advance forward;
the back being bent inward, and the head kept upright and steady. A
moment before the horse's hind legs quit the ground, the body should be
inclined backward; the rider taking care not to bear heavily on the
reins, lest the horse force her hand, and pull her forward on his neck,
or over his head, as he descends. When the leap is cleared, the rider
should bring the horse together, if at all disunited, and resume her
usual position.
In the flying leap, the seat is to be preserved as in the standing leap;
except, that it is needless, and, indeed, unwise, to advance the body as
the horse rises: because, in the flying leap, the horse's position,
especially in a low leap, is more horizontal than when he rises at the
bar from a halt; and there is great danger of the rider being thrown, if
she lean forward, in case the horse suddenly check himself and refuse
the leap; which circumstance occasionally happens. The waist should be
brought forward, and the body suffered to take that inclination backward
which will be produced by the spring forward of the horse. The horse's
head is to be guided towards the bar, and the reins yielded to him as he
advances.
The proper distance for a horse to run previous to the leap, is from ten
to fifteen yards. If he be well trained, he may be suffered to take his
own pace; but it is necessary to animate an indolent animal into a
short, collected gallop, and urge him, by strong aids, to make the leap.
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