Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-21
Troops F. H. G and E. and will be divided

Troops F. H. G and E, and will be divided
into two sections.
The first section will be fully equipped as
cavalry troop prepares for drill while the
secon,. Is known as the bareback section,
saddles being dispensed with and the blanket
and surcingle being substituted instead.
The first section performs the evolutlons
provided for mounted troops fully equipped
and the bareback section gives the mount
ed exercises provided for in the drill regu-
lations with few additions. Both sections
have been drilling assiduously all winter in
the riding hall at Fort Myer, under the d.
rection of Capt. Brett, and they are both
now almost ready for the competition which
will determine which Is to compete in the
Madison Square Garden festival.
Attendance at the drills at Fort Myer has
been necessarily restricted. The accom-
modations of the riding, hall will not permit
invitations being extended to more than 800
or 400 persons and as a consequence great
pressure is brought to bear on the War De-
partment to obtain tickets Of admission
The officers in charge of the troops at the
post have not even been able to secure ad-
mission to all the drills and many of them
are not as we'll posted on the proficiency
with which their troops perform the various
evolutions, as many civilians who have
been fortunate enough to obtain admission
to the building.
The Saddle Squad.
The saddle squad Is the first portion Of
the composite troop to be brought into the
hall The men march in in sets Of fours
and circle about the hall. The first move
ments include forming troop front from a
column Of fours, marching backward, for
ward. obliquely and sidewise In troop front
and In sets Of fours. The horses are then
made to trot and the troop breaks into a
column of platoons, then column of fours.
then twos and then by trooper. forming
again In the same manner to troop front,
without break in the line or single
foIS or ant frun nj o.
are then separated and march in a column
of fours along the opposite sides of the
hall. AT the command the sets of tours
turn by the flank. and passing each other
with Just enough space between the men to
permit the passage Of the horse. Troop
front Is again formed. and the men lead their
horses out until there Is a space Of about
six PAGES between each two men, Sabers
are given In almost perfect cadence with
out command Of any kind, one movement
following another In perfect order and in
absolute silence. When the sabers are re-
turned to the scabbards the order to lie
down Is given. and almost as quick as 1t
takes to tell 1t, every horse Is thrown by
it's rider without dismounting: There were
several fractions horses the day a Star re-
porter witnessed the drill, and it was few
moments before they could be made to lie
down, but they were finally settled on the
tanbark floor and lay perfectly still until
the command to rise was given. This feat
Is considered very clever trick by most
horsemen, but it Is as nothing compared
with the bareback exercises Of the cavalry
troops of the army. When the horses were
again on their feet cotillon was formed
and as the band played the horses pranced
through the intricate mazes of the grand
march. The hurdles were then brought out
and the troop was put over the hurdles four
abreast. When all the men had jumped the
stirrups were crossed and the men rode
standing erect in the stirrups. The exer-
else with the saddled horses was concluded
with a terrific charge by the whole troop
in troop front, from one end Of the hall to
the other, the troops coming up the hall at
break-neck speed, the men yelling like mad
The horses seemed about to dash right into
the visitors gallery. but when within three
or four feet of the stand they were skill
fully pulled up and the column broke into
sets of fours and marched out of the hall
| amid the applause Of the spectators
The Bareback Squad
The most daring and interesting portion
of the drill came next when the bareback
squad was brought into the hall The horses
were equipped with nothing but blanket
and surcfngle and light watering bride,
while the men were in regulation field uni
form. The first two or three turns about
the hall were In the walk, trot and gallop