The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-16

~ "A CAVALRY STUNT AT FORT MYER
their teams chosen, and difficult drills
and intricate evolutions have been fol
long time the order of the day.
OF those which will participate in the
exhibition probably the most favored
is the composite troop of the Second
cavalry, which has been exercising
here. This is not the only division oil
the Second cavalry being prepared foI
the tournament, but it is the one that
has attracted the greatest attention
owing largely to the fact that it is To-
Gated so near Washington. The COM
posite troop has for its commander
Captain Lloyd NJ. Brett. veteran who
is recognized as one of the best cayaI-
~ officers in the service. The troop it.
self is made up of details from Troops
f, H G and E and will be divided into
two sections.
The first section will be fully
equipped, but the second will dispense
with saddles and use blanket and sur
cingle instead; hence 1t will be known
as the bareback section The first will
perform the eroIntions provided in the
regulations for mounted troops, while
the bareback men will give these
and q few additional. Both sections
have been drilling hard in the riding
hall, and both are almost ready for the
competition to determine the team for
Madison Square Garden.
A visitor to the riding hall while a
" drill is in progress cannot but be I'M
pressed BY the wonderful proficiency
attained by these cavalrymen. The
saddle troop goes through its PAGES
first. Various formations are shown
and finally itroop 'front.' is ordered.
The men then lead their horses out III.
til there is a space of about six PAGES
between each two men Sabers ars
drawn, and the fascinating saber drill
follows, the nleE going through, the
successive movements in perfect uni.
Son and without a word of command
At the end of the saber drill the com
mand to lie down Genes and in an IN
slant every iorse is thrown by its rider
without disi-.onnting. When the horses
are again on their feet, a. cotfllon is
formed. the band plays. and the horses
go through the complicated steps of
the grand march Hurdles are then
Drought out, and the eavalrymen take |
them four abreast. The exercises con-
clude with q terrific Charge down the
ball, the horses at breakneck speed,
the men yelling like demons. When
within three feet Of the visitors gal
lery THEY are skiilfnliy pulled up, and
the column breaks into sets of fours
and marches out Of the hall.
50 this is difficult enough. but it is
nothing 70 the bareback exercises that
follow The troopers. equipped in reg
qlation uniform, take the hurdles as
ora nd ssillfully as the sad
die bes ss..llIllg fellows. They are re-.
CURED to ts.aeaaat. vault over the
horse and renoilht from the opposite
side while their steeds are first trot
ring and then galloping. Next the men
are formed III columns Of tWos and /
take turns Id dismounting and vault /
Ing over their own horses to tie backs /
OF those ridden BY their partners,
When this exercise is over. the hur-
dies are again brought out, and the
men dismount and vault over their |
horses as they are taking the jumps.
This is indies ] an exacting feat, but it |
is performed in faultless style by the
agile cslvalrymen. With the horses
still I'D pairs and one man managing
both. his partner vaults to the back of
his horse and, standing, rides over the
hurdles Three horses are then substi-
tuted for two, and The rider. standing,
manages the three as they top tile TIM
Der Then foCr men take four horses
abreast over the hurdles. ali four men
standing on the equines' backs. Other
exercises include lying down with tbe
horses. rising and yaulting over two,
three four and even five horses stand
ing side to side
Attendance ut these practice drills
Is necessarily very much restricted
owing to the accommoda tons of the
riding hall. As a consequence great
pressure is brought to bear on the war
department In order to secure tickets
of admission Not more than $50 In
vifatiens can be extended for one drill,
and those who receive an invitation
count themselves indeed fortunate.
HENRY IN. MILLER.