Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-12
(Copyrizhted 1881

Theodore Roosevelt, to which allusion was
made in the previous paper, friend and q
good horsemsn pondered over it a few min
utes before giving uttersnce to his own senti-
ments.
sswen," said he at last, II presume Mr.
Roosevelt is right. He has had ample oppor-
tunities for observation, and. although it had
not occurred to me before. I do not know why.
with his advantages the West Pointer should
not be the best all around rider
Now what are his advantages?
To begin with, no young man ever enters the
military academy a full-fedged cadet until
he has been stripped to the skin and most
searchingly examined by three experienced
surgeons Every test that science has devised
every expedient their professional knowledge
can suggests resorted to in order to detect
any possible flaw in the physical condition of
the candidate. III accepted. IL Is prima facie
evidence that the young fellow is sound in
every bodily point and can stand no end of
knocking about.
Then follows a year of incessant routine. a
year IN which admirable gymnastic and calls
thenic training is combined with soldiery
drill OF course, he has his studies his regular
hours for sleep, recreation. recitation. refiec-
ton. &C., but he cannot shirk his physical
training. II goes on day by day under men
who know their business, and at the end of his
first year at the Point the young man is erect
as flagstaff. but springy. active and sinewy as
a cat Then he is in condition to learn how to
rlde. and until then he may never have
bestridden horse.
on WOODEN HORSE
The instruction begins in the gymnasium in
the autumn OF his second year. He is placed
alongside big ,coodea horse he is Taught how
To mount without the aid of strrups; he il
made to vault on and of from either side, from
the rear lover the croup) and every way, ex-
cept probably over the head, which is an alb
normal and involuntary method of dismounting
that. in the case of an officer and a hive horse
never IN old cavalry DAYS cost the rider less
than basket OF champagne. When he has
learned to vault on. of and completely over
MS wooden steed with perfect ease. then the
cadet Is marched to the riding hall and intro
cuced to his mount There in rank aligned
some thirty cavalry horses equipped with
watering BRIDES blankets and surcingles
The class silently take the positions
taught them in the gymnasium.
and ri the command of the in
structOr mount as prescribed and In another
moment III column OF files" the young fellows
are nOiselessly pacing around on the tan bark
track In few words the instructor explains
hOS the simple snaffle rein should be held and
how the legs and feet should be allowed to
fall at tine different turns or az the change OF
gait Then after few minutes quiet walking
70 enable each ueOphyte 10 gain little CONN.,
dence in HIS new position. and TO enable the in
structor to correct any errors in seat or stye or
position Of hand eIbow-tke backs and
shoulders give him no trouble as they do our
riding masters in the big cities; that il all at
tended 10 beforehlnd-then comes the COM
mand. trot. and the youngster who has never
before bestridden horse. or has done so only
on the English saddle with the aid of stirrups
ana the rise. has no adequate conception of
the sensations awaiting him.
THE HAZE FOE TIE BITE
The system NAV have changed in some re-
speets. but the basis of West Point instruction
in equation has always been to make the rider
~ home on horseback. without saddle or STIR
ruPs. ut any and every gait: and to this end
nothing WIS surer To settle the cadet down into
seat; nothing better calculated to develop
the muscles of the thigh-the riding muscles
than the devotion of some forty minutes of
each lesson for the first eight or ten weeks to
the remorseless and uncompromisng trot. CT
villains simply wouldn't stand it. Cadets have
to-aEd bethink me az this moment of more
than one fast grizzling captain of cavalry
whom have seen jogging around that quad
rilateTal o. reddish brown with the tan bark
dust ON his boyiSh face furrowed by tears
he could neither repress nor wipe
away--wrUng from his eyes by the pain
and SORENESS OF the third or fourth
lesson yet doggcdiy and pluckily
sticking 10 II. sure 20 triumph in the end In
deed. vas u not for years a tradition at the
point that one chubby young easterner who
never until that memorable November had
stTaddied 80 much rs pony. actually broke
down IN his suffering andbegged the instructor
10 Take me OF this horse?' But these were
rare and exceptional instances. For the first
three weeks after riding begins for the ..year-
ling class thsTe always a dozen Young
fellows 80 sore and lame that they cannot at
tend drills. E'a t6si hdcP 20 60 ,ritt the r6i-
tlJ. IL Il the hair % the dog that cures the bite
and after tAe t-st month the flesh of the inner
hghs. hitherto soft. becomes tough and firm
and n three months Of this sort Of work sole
leather wouldn't be a circumstance" was the
way one % them exPressedit it.
IN EVERY POSITION.
Day after dav in the Dig. gloomy old riding
hall the lessons so on. and gradually. as elias
tlcity and confidence are gained. the gymnas-
ties begin that add to the graca and rise of the
rider FIRST. while &c the walk. then at the
trOt. the Instructor requires his pupils to prac-
tlce sleh movements a. the following: Raise
both feet until at height of the knees bending
beg To rear. Throw right leg over horses
meek and sat sideways. Throw left leg over
horse neck. &. sitting in the natural posi-
ton bend backwards until the head and shout
ders rest on the horse. OF course the natural
position is resumed after riding a few minutes
~ eaSh POSITION. but only at the command of
the lLsructOT- There can be no individual yo-
hilon IN the matter. Unless excused
By the surgeon on account Of some tempo
rarlly severe disability every member OF the
class must do his level best % accomplish every
one OF the prescribed exercises Then follow
Others. Leap from the horse on the left side
and vault on again aithOut check him. Do
the same on the right side. Leap to the ground
on either side. and then vault completely 0cey.
him to the other. Vault again into seat
In all these exercises the reins must never be
lost. and, II the instructor be very watchfll
never unduly hghtened. That is a matter
wherein many riders. IN and out of West Point
require constant coaching. Then i'm course of
the spring months comes the leaping of the
bar and the hurdle. all taught with the snafie-
bit and without the saddle Also few les
sons IN Wrestling on horseback. picking up caps
and handkerchiefs from the ground. and finally
before the cadet goes on his long Anticipated
furlongh when half through the course a les
son or two with the saddle and curb bride
80 as 10 enable the young gentleman to know
something of those items in case he should be
invited to ride
CAVALRY EvoLUTIONs.
Two more years of drill and instruction fol-
low, but these are more devoted to cavalry
eyolutions than to individual teaching Never
theless, there are long wintry months when
drills cannot be conducted ON ..the Plain" and
then IL Is the cadet is taught the use of the
saoer and revolver. mounted. and the riding
bail Is the scene for two hours a day when the
different classes exercise, Of a good deal OF
dashing horsemanship. Running at the
heads Is capital training and develops the
nerve and skill Of the young troopers to a high
degree. Leaping the hurdles while cutting al
leather heads ON short posts or the ground