Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-08-11
UNDERSTANDING
Various Means Used for Accustomlna, the
AnIlnals 70 Cavalry Exercise.


West Point a considerable time
elapses before they are brought into
the riding-school; for, Harper's
Weekly says, cadets are never
mounted on green animals. The
horse first receives a certain degree
of training, to accustom him to his
new and unusual duties. When
brought into the stables, he is placed
in stall adjoining those of expert
enced and quiet horses, that he may
have the benefit of their example
Men at work about the stable are
cautioned to approach quietly, and
always speaking to him, that he may
be gently accustomed to their pres
ence. His diet even is carefully regu-
lated, that he may become used to
the government forage ration with
out injury. His first exercise in the
line Of duty consists in being halter
led by trooper mounted on we'll
trained horse. After this a bride
may be placed on him and the reins
loosely tied and thrown over his neck.
When he is properly fitted with a
snaffie bride, the cavesson, light
halter fitted with nose band, is adj
justed, and the longeing strap at
tached. The practice of the loneg
is to supple and teach the horse the
free and proper use of his legs. It
thus aids in forming his gaits, and in
fitting him for the cavalry service
The length of the lessons is regu-
lated to avoid overwhelming a horse.
Then bending lessons are given.
From them the horse acquires a
proper carriage OF the head and neck.
They also serve to render him more
manageable by teaching him to con-
form to the movements of the reins,
and to yield to the pressure of
the bit. He is taught to arch the
neck, to raise or lower the head and
to bend it to the side. After this the
horse is thrown. This is done, if
possible, more gently and carefully
than the preceding exercise. The
method used is modification of the
Rarey method. A strap is fastened
around the of fore pastern, and passed
over the back. AS soon as the horse
moves, under urging, the strap is
pulled and held taut, thus bringing
the heel against the forearm and
keeping it there. The horse is brought
to his knees, and in this position he
is permitted to remain until of his
own Yolition he lies down, obeying
the repeated command, 'tDown!" He
is not to be pushed over. This lesson
illustrates the theory and motive of
all the training. The horse is con-
sidered as an animal of single idea.
He has no reasoning faculties beyond
the limit of his experience, and con-
Sequently he is reasoned with by acts
alone. In this lesson he becomes con-
WINGED of his own helplessness, and
of mans power over him; the end Of
it is that he Is compelled to submit
and lie down. But in this, as in
other measures Of training, he finds
that no harm comes to him; he is
treated kindly and gently, but yet so
firmly that he is compelled TO obey.
He learns to trust his master and to
obey without dissent. He is made to
submit to mans control without eX-
citing his resentment, or suffering
other physical pain than that result
ing from his own resistance.
The horse IS now in condition to
step on to the tanbark and meet the
cadet. Both actors in the scenes to
1O4lOW nave OO0u OIdIaC0 WILL UIIIS
end in view. The cadet is a third
class MANN cadet phraseology a
''yearling," from the fact that he
has completed the first years course
of study and has been advanced to
the next years class. During the
year elapsed he has seen horses only
at distance; they have not existed
for him. But while his more adj
Vanced comrades have been riding.
and occasionally turning involuntary
somersaults, he has been bringing
his young muscles under good control,
and rendering them supple in the
gymnasium. He has been there turn
ing somersaults with a purpose. The
course of gymnastics is lacking in no
essential particular, and it may be
quite properly regarded as prepare
tory to the course in the riding school,
for it stops where the other begins;
and the yearling undoubtedly pre-
sents a more creditable mounted ap-
pearance than would be the case
should he. pass to the riding school
without first rendering his muscles
tense.