Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-13

| ry evolutIons than to individual teaching.
evertheless, there are long wintry months
when drills cannot be conducted on "the
plain, and then it is the cadet is taught
the use of the saber and revolver-mounted,
and the riding hall is the scene for two
hours day. when the different classes ex-
ercise, of good deal of dashing horseman-
ship" Running at the heads is capital
training and develops the nerve and skill of
the young troopers to high degree. Leap
ing the hurdles while cutting at leather
heads on short posts or the ground tests
their seat and agility to an extent few
pupils of the city schools would care to
adventure without all the previous instruc-
ton.
BAREBACK RIDING.
But almost every day. for few moments,
saddles are stripped off and then the cadet,
girt with saber and revolver perhaps, goes
back to first principles and bareback. Then
it is that one sees the strong points Of our
school of riding, for the cadet is expected
and required to accomplish, without the
AID OF saddle or stirrup, everything he can
do with them.
Indeed, it used to be the practice at the
Academy in the old days 10 compel the
cross the stirrups," i. e. throw them over
the horses neck in front of the pommel-and
ride without their use for several months. 1t
is probably still in vogue as a regular and
necessary part of the teaching, but, perhaps,
not for so long time.
Now any man who has ridden very much
or given much thought to the subject, will
be apt to admit that under such a course of
training the average youth ought to become
pretty fair horseman. 1t is not perfect
system-no doubt improvements could be
suggested-but taking it by and large, as
the sailors say, there is good deal of
pith in it.
There are men, however, who never on
earth can be taught to ride either gracefully
or we'll. There are graduates of the Military
Academy who were the despair of the writer
OF this paper in old days when he was
charged with the duty of putting them
through their PAGES; men naturally built
the other way" and incapable of acquiring
either an easy or a secure seat.
BORN HoRsEMEN.
On the other hand, there came every year
from the West and Southwest perhaps a
bakers dozen of "born horsemen',-boys
who had broken and tanned Texan bronchos
or Kentucky scions Of Lexington. The very
best riders are almost always from those re-
gions; the very worst from the New En-
gland States. These are averages, mind you,
and occasionally the rule finds startling
exception either way.
But, having gone through three years of
this sort OF training, ninety out of every
hundred graduates ought to be able to
mount any horse they may encounter-and
they are compelled to ride pretty much every
kind while cadets-and they should be able
at once to adapt themselves to any kind of
saddle. There, however, is one failing point.
The cadet is taught only the military seat
when in saddle, and has only the Mcclellan
tree in which to practice. He would be far
more at home. therefore, in the bare back of
horse than on an English made hunting
saddle, and it is to be hoped that in the near
future an opportunity will be given the
class of each year to take |
turn or perhaps three or four lessons |
with the English saddle and bride that |
they may learn the entire difference of |
seat and style reguired-when they are COM |
pelled by force of circumstances to adopt |
hat equipment For all material and pro-
fesslonal purposes the army saddle is very
we'll, but our people are taking up horse
Every day finds scores of ad-
nlrably appointed steeds and riders in the
bark and on the Boulevard, and, Just as he
lrops mis- uniform when he leaves the gar
'ison, SO should our young officers be ready
% forget the army saddle and to swing his
eg as nimbly over the pig-skin and ride it
as 1t was made to be ridden. The West
Pointer, If he choose. can far more easily
10 this; or ride the Texan, the Californis,
he French, or the racing especially the
acing saddle, than can the graduate of any
ther school of horsemanship step from the
addle OF his boyhood and ride "cross coun-
ry" in the Mcclellan without losidg his
tirrups. CHARLES KING, U. S. A.