The times., 1901-05-19
UNIQUE CAVALRY DRILLS
Spectacular Work Attracts Crowds
to Fort Myer.
How the Recruit Is Taught to Ride
and Care for His MOUnt-ReGuIn-
tions That Protect n Horse From
the Full Weight of His Burden.

Hundreds of people go to Fort Mye
| every drill day in the spring to watch th'
| maneuvres of the Cavalrynien in The gres
| riding hall. All take an interest in th'
more spectacular parts of the perform
| ance. but there are probably only a few
| who know the meaning and purpose OF
the many little things that are done
American cavalry methods are regarded
as the most thorough employed by any
cavalry in the world. and the ex.
ercises and drills that the cav
alrymen at the fort go through
show how the American cavalry
recruit is trained, broken in, and eventu-
ally becomes the most economical and eff.
ficient unit in the military establishment
The cavalryman has to possess virtues
for two creatures-the horse and himself
A cavalryman can be trained in many
ways, but the hundreds of short-lived
horses that come into the possession of
the various cavalry regiments of the
United States every year cannot be taught
to make themselves most efficient as car
riers of soldiers. The soldier has to learn
to make himself most easily carried by
his horse. 1t is toward accomplishing this
end that the methods of cavalry training
IN the United States are directed.
Save the man, and likewise save the
horse That is the maxim Every ounce
of cloth. every ounce of leather, of wood,
or metal, aside from the straps and hat
ornaments which go to make up the
equipment of a trooper and his mount
are put there with but one idea, save the
man, and likewise the horse.
When recruits are being taught to ride
at Fort Myer, the nice points of the
American cavalry system show them
selves. As the men with their bareback
ed horses run out on the tan bark, the
lieutenant gives the order: Grasp the
reins in the right hand ana place it en-
the withers:" Prepare to mount"
Mount" The command is not an easy
one to obey, and many of the soldiers
have had hard time executing the order.
Jump on, climb on any way you can"
cherrily cries the officer. as the men
struggle to get on the horses backs.
Keep your eyes to the front. Here,
stop that clucidng. Never cluck or chirp
10 a cavalry horse. Sit straight, you are
not a jockey. Sit on your horse and don't
pun his mouth raw" and a hundred SINH
lar comments and injunctions are deliv-
cred by the lieutenant as the men circle
the large hall.
der: Hold your arms. Sit straight, toes
in, and let your horses go as they please"
As the men vainly strive to keep their
balance and are carried by their horses
at any pace around the room, the officer
shouts other comments. such as Keep
your arms folded and close to your sides.
Don't touch that horse with your heels,
il you had spurs he would be running
away" AS the men of unsteady seat
tumble from their mounts the lieutenant
laughs at them. The men race after their
horses, mount again as best they can,
and continue the practice of balancing
themselves upon the horses backs.
There was a good reason for every in
junction by the lieutenant. The Ameri-
can cavalry is the most matter-of-fact
organization in the world, it is claimed
and If the service could be improved by
having each trooper follow his own in
ciination in riding, that would be the
rule in the regulations. But experience
has proved that this would not be wise.
Long marches have shown that the man
" no slouches in his seat has a worn
horse and sore back. The men are
taught to sit erect, look to the front and
ride in the middle of the horses back,
because il is better for the horses, and not
because il looks smarter
Several years ago Col. W. II. Carter,
aho was stationed at Fort Leayenworth.
ILas, put into a book all he knew 9bout
horses and the treatment they should re-
,eive He studied the cavalry horse
His volume is entitled
Horse. Saddle, and Bride" This is now
4 textbook used by the United States
government.
Colonel Carter describes the seat of the
as follows: in the middle of the
saddle, body erect and square to the
'front.' with shoulders back and chest
pushed slightly forward, the forearm OF
he bridle-hand held horizontally and the
.lbow close TO the body without pressure;
he inner surface OF the thign in close
contact with the horse and the saddle
rom the knees to the buttocks. the direc-
ion Of the thigh being parallel with the
lorse's shoulders; the lower part OF the
Cgs from the knees down completely un-
Ter the control Of the rider for use as
lids in directing the horse. The training
II a recruit is to obey these directions.
or the directions. ii is claimed, mean
,asy riding, and less work for both horse
.ud man.
The recruits first work is generally up
m a wooden horse. The new cavalryman
5 set to work yaulting upon il, until he |
an land on the top of 1t easily. This is
o give him agility, which is OF inesu- |
nable value in horsemanshtp. Then he Is |
Own how To sit in saddle. When he |
an do this he is given a horse and his |
irst lessons in the saddle.
The cavalry horses are supposed TO be |
ounc and good-tempered, and though |
hey may be the former, they are by no |
mems always the latter After the man |
la obtained a good seat in the saddle he |
S put at bareback work That is done |
o give him confidence and make him real |
ze that he can stay on any kind Of a |
orse if he tries. Among horsemen there |
re three kinds of seats-tne long seat, !
ne seat where the legs are held nearly |
traight and perpendicular, and the mill |
airy seat. The long seat is that used by |
he English army and the cross country |
iders The rider sits back in the saddle |
he cowboy knows how To ride, and his |
ags hang nearly straight down the
orse's sides. He has, however. an al
lost limited amount of horsehesh to
raw upon and he does not need to save
he energies of his mounts
The American military and cavalry seat |
one between that of the cowboy and
he Englishman. After the soldier has
ack, and to govern his horse completely
Q comes to the more interesting and |
howy work-the jumping. sabre practice.
otato races, and the like, which proves
D attractive to the hundreds who visit
Ort Myer.
The care Of the horse is another fea-
are of the recruits first lessons IF
acre is one place that must be grOOmed,'
ays the officer to his men; 1t is the |
orses back. A few turned hairs may |
lean a sore back, which generally re
llts in someone having to walk. Never
lind polishing the outside of the horses
oofs. Look out for the inside. Clean |
lem inside to keep them healthy Brush |
le horses coat and clean his hoofs as |
on would brush your own hair and clean
our own teeth" Horses are never wash
I, as washing makes the skin hard and |