Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-20

English saddle-how the moment you begin
to pull on the strap he begins to swell visi-
bly," like Mr.. Weller's lady friend at the
tea drinking of the Union Grand junction
Ebenezer Temperance Association? 1t is
his protest against the absurdity OF the
whole thing. He is simply trying to retain
tor himself the power Of lung expansion of
which you would deprive him, and without
which he is incapable of doing his best
work.
HOW DANGER Is DOUBLED.
But if this position of the army saddle
and this cruel "cinching'' of the girth be
faulty for riding on the level. how mani
testify do they double the danger of rapid
riding down hill. With all the weight in
front and nothing behind, it is simply a
wonder tile horse doesn't turn somersaults.
The Indian puts his saddle-so does the
ranci man and the cowboy-where the
weight will come on the middle of the horses
back, and beyond doubt the next Tactics of
our cavalry will modify rule that among
all thinking troop commanders has long
since become dead letter. Major Sanger,
of the artillery, one Of our most distin-
guished light battery commanders, and
Captain Hall, of the Fifth Cavalry, have
strenuously urged the change and proved its
utility, and with the saddle in its proper
place and with light bridle-hand and a
cool head, there is no reason why our trooper
should not rival the Indian in up and down
hill riding. AS for the riders of the English
school, or the American city schools and the
English or Whitman (American) saddle,
there is no good reason why the speed should
be slackened at the slope, except for mere
fundamental considerations.
flar ,oru re oil hnn md
horsemanship that deserve mention here.
To begin with he always mounts from the
off (right) side of his horse, instead of the
near side as We do. The only real reason
why the cavalryman has not been taught
for centuries to mount from both sides is
that his saber, swinging from the waist belt
on his own left side, was in the way. Now
that we are attaching the saber to the saddle
instead of the trooper, it will probably lead
to practice on both sides. West Point has
already begun it. The Indian, once in his
saddle, wrapped in his blanket, is de-
pressing sight. He sits hunched up on his
pony, his knees way no, his feet thrust far
into stirrups not unlike those Of ladies' sad
dies. He looks utterly
AWKWARD AND UNGRACEFUL
as he jogs along, tapping perpetually with
his wooden-handled whip lashes at the right
flank of his steed; but the instant he clears
for action, throws off his blanket and darts
out over the prairie, he IS transfgured.
More daring, graceful, swaying horseman-
ship it would be almost impossible to con-
ceive Of You forget the hunched-up knees
in the freedom and fexibility Of his 1.-THE,
painted body. You marvel at the cat-Iike
agility with which he bounds on or off his
dashing pony, ducks under or down on
either side, firing under his neck as he
whirls across the springy turf, but you have
only to remember that it is all second nature
to him. He began to ride the moment he
iwas loosened from the bonds of the pappoose
board, and has been at it ever since. Many
of them, especially among the Snakes or
SShoshones, are wofully bow-legged as a con-
sequence and most ungainly bipeds when
afoot.
Talking few DAYS since with an enthusi-
astic horseman-a New Yorker who did his
country valiant service in the war days un-
der Buford and Merritt-he said that as
regularly as the morning came around when
he was at home, he mounted his horse, made
the circuit of the bride path in Central
Park, beginning at rapid trot, increasing
to the "lope," giving his steed a glorious
run near the reservoir and then, gradually
slackening speed, get back to his door in 80
minutes, all in glow and with an appetite
for breakfast. Needless to say when that
gentleman pays his visits to the West he
rides with cavalryman or cowboy on equal
terms and enjoys vigor OF health and a
steadiness of nerve that are sources of envy
to metropolitan friends who are less ener-
getic There is no exercise on the face of
the globe that com bines so much that is ad-
mirable as that to be obtained in the saddle.
CHARLES KING, q. S. A.