The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1892-09-10
TRAINING HORSES.
Hsw They Arc Broken for Riding at West
Point.

Rsw They Arc Broken for Riding at West
Point.
After new horses are brought to West
Point a considerable time elapses before
they are brought into the riding-school;
Tor cadets are never mounted on green
animals. The horse first receives GER
tain degree of training, to accustom
him to his new and unusual duties.
When brought into the stables, he is
placed in a stall adjoining those of
quiet and experienced horses, that he
may have the benefit of their example.
Men at work about the stable are eau
toned to approach quietly. and always
speaking to him, that he may be gently
accustomed to their presence His diet
even is carefully regulated, that he may
become used to the government forage
ration without injury.
His first exercise in the line of duty
consists in being halter-led by a trooper
mounted on a well-trained horse. After
this bride may be placed on him and
the reins loosely tied and thrown over
his neck. When he is properly fitted
with snafiie bride, the caveson, light
halter fitted with a nose band, is adj
justed, and the longeing strap attached.
The practice of the longe is to supple
and teach the horse the free and proper
use of his legs. 1t thus aids in forming
his gaits, and in fitting him for the cav
airy service. The length of the lessons
is regulated to avoid overwhelming the
horse.
Then bending lessons are given.
From them the horse acquires proper
carriage of the head and neck. They
also serve to render him more manage
able by teaching him to conform 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 exercises. The
method used is a modification of the
Rarey method A strap is fastened
around the off 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 permit
he lies down, obeying the repeated COM
mand: DOWN. He is not to be pushed
over.
This lesson illustrates the theory and
motive of all the training. The horse
Is considered as an animal of single
idea. He has no reasoning faculties be-
yond the limit of his experience, and
consequently he is reasoned with by
acts alone. In this lesson he becomes
convinced Of his own helplessness, and
Of mans power over him. No amount
of plunging aids him; the end of it is
that he is compelled to submit and lie
down. But in this, as in other meas
ures of training, he finds that no harm
comes to him; he is treated kindly and
gently, but yet SO firmly that he is COM
peeled to obey. He learns to trust his
master, and to obey without dissent.
He is made to submit to mans control
without exciting his resentment, or
suffering other physical pain than that
resulting from his own resistance.
The horse is now in condition to
step on to the tan-bark and meet the
cadet. Both actors in the scenes to
follow have been trained with this end
in view. The cadet is a third-class
MANN cadet phraseology year
ling from the fact that he has COM
pleted 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 advanced 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 there been
turning somersaults with a purpose.
The course of gymnastics is lacking in
no essential particular, and it may
quite properly be regarded as prepare
tory TO the course in the riding-school.
for it stops where the other begins; and
the yearling undoubtedly presents a
more creditable mounted appearance
than would be the case should he pass
to the riding-school without first rem
dering his muscles tense.--Harper's