The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-02-03
TO STUDY AR MY HORSES
Plans of an American School
of Equitation.

officers of the Americas Away VIII
Work Four Months at Fort Riley,
Aan., Learning the Care of Horses
Under an ConditfOns-PUpals From
Many Posts.
The FIST school of equitatiOn in the
United States army was recently 1nau-
gurated at Fort Riley, Kan, says the
Kansas City Star Although new to
American service, the idea has obtain
ed in the armies of Europe many years.
The war department has had the mat
ter under advjsement the last year. h
the four years eou"se in West Point
the cadet receives bis portion of riding
hall drill, and all emerge from the In
stitution with more or Ness knowledge
of the horse as far as mounted drill
is concerned, but right there his train
ing ends. The curriculum Of the aead-
envy embraces so many studies ana
duties that time cannot be devoted to
instructing the cadets in the care and
training of horses, in farriery and
horseshoeing and in veterinary work.
1t is not the intention of the war de-
partment that officers shall be required
to perform the functions of veterlna-
ry or of farrier, hoPseshoer or horse
trainer, but that they shall have such
a theoretical knowledge of these duties
that they will be able to instruct others
how to put them in practice or, II an
emergency occurs, to be able to perform
the work themselves. France has
training school for mounted officers at
Sameur, said to be the best in the
world.
The new department of instruction at
Fort Riley is in charge of Captain
Walter c. Short, Thirteenth cavalry,
who is also the director of the school
for farriers and horseshoers there. It's
pupils come from almost every post in
the United States. Captain Short is
known throughout the army as a prac-
teal horseman.
Each student officer will be at the
riding hall an hour and a half each
day, where green" as well as vicious
animals will be awaiting their atten-
ton. The green" ones will be trained
In all the gaits and exercises incidental
to an army horses training. Faulty ac-
ton and If possible temperament Will
be corrected and each animal made as
obedient to discipline as the officer him
will
tanned. Three hours each week will be
devoted TO work In the bOrseshoelng
shop. Every officer will don the leather
apron and take his turn at the anvil IN
order that he may understand the fash
jOning of shoes. He will Also learn how
to prepare the foot and fit the shoe. He
wifi be instructed how to shoe an ami
NAL that PAGES or siDglefoots in order
that the fault may be corrected, for
there are only three gaits, known to
regulations walk, trot and gallop.
When an expert hoFseshOer has correct
ed such a fault as far as the shOeing is
concerned, there bis duty ends. Not so
in this case. Each officer will be re
ouired to take the animal that he has
worked upon and teach him to regulate
his gait according to the requirements
of the military standard.
An hour every afternoon will be Civ
en- to work in the operating room of the
veterinary hospital in practical far
riery. The care of the horse in accident
and disease in the field will also be in
Clllded in the course. Animals from the
different organizations are constantly
undergoing treatment at the hospital,
and each student will be given Oppor-
tunity to put the theory into practice
under the eye Of the attending veteri-
naFians. The most complete veterinary
museum in the service is at Fort Riley.
The school has been equipped with
three styles of saddIe-the regulation
Mcclellan, the variety known in the
"cow country" and the English pigsktn.
In the training of horses all three vari-
cites will be used When the vicious
cnes with a tendency to buck are the
center of attraction the 'cOw saddle"
will be used. 1t is a great help in
stormy session. The English pigskin
will be used when the animal has ac-
quired a knowledge of what is required
of him and will figure in the training
of the officer The English style of sad
die is used universally in Europe by the
military, and it is the desire of the war
department that mounted officers cult
vate the seat in order that they may
not be at a disadvantage when the Oc-
casion calls for its use. This is espe-
cially desirable in the case of our mill
tary attaches serving abroad. The
course is four months and each officer
must qualify to the satisfaction of the
school staff. 1t means hard work and
lots of it, but it also means efficient and
thoroughly prepared officers.