Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11

front of and six inches from the center of
the body. The right hand is supposed to
hang naturally at the side, except when
carrying the saber or some other portion of
the equipment. The right hand Is never
used in the management of the horse except
in extreme cases. The legs, from thigh to
knee, are held rigid, the muscles tightly
clasping the sides of the horse.
Here is the secret of army horseman-
ship or, rather the American army horse
manship. When the muscles of the
cruit have become hardened to the uses to
which they are put in holding this seat IT
takes more than the usual efforts of trac-
uous horse to unseat him. In fact, unless
a horse falls over backward 1t is next TO
impossible to throw such a rider. In this
position the trooper has the use of almost
every other muscle in his body, and has
the greatest freedom to do as he pleases.
The horses are guided by pressure of the
leg, the rein the neck. A horse Is
never pulled and the recruits are taught
to use a light but firm hand under all
circumstances, except where conditions
make it absolutely necessary to do other
wise. With the free use of the legs and
the hands II will be seen that a cavalry
man can make his horse do almost any
thing he desires. A steady pressure of the
knees and a light touch on the reins send
the horse forward; a slight tug at the reins
brings him backward; too hard pull will
put him on his launches; by carrying the
hand to the right and permitting the lett
rein to touch the left side of the horses
neck the animal turns to the right; sim
liar movement to the left turns the horse
to the left; by carrying the hand to the
right and touching the horse lightly on the
flank with the left spur the horse will side
step or passage" to the right; a similar
operation in the opposite direction will
move the horse to the left. These are
few OF the things recruit in the cavalry
service is taught when he first mounts
horse and they are good things for the
layman to know who desires to ride a
horse properly and without discomfort.
The recruits training does not stop with
this, however He is made to ride bareback
and to perform all sorts of fancy evolu-
tons on the animals back. such as rid
ing at all gaits and over hurdles, first with
one horse then with two, and finally with
three and four leaping to the horses back
as the animal takes a hurdle and leaping
from the ground to a standing posture on
the mount.
He is also taught to pick up a comrade
who has been dsmounted, and to mount
his horse from either side or from the rear.
The lessons require him to jump clear over
the horse and onto the back of another
II citing beside his own, landing first In the
natural seat, then facing the rear. and then
staEding. After he has acquired these
tricks he is permitted to do what else he
can, and he is encouraged by the of1cers to
learn new tricks. These things are permit
ted and encouraged by the officers because
they give the man confidence in his ability
to manage his horse and help him, there
fore, to become good soldier Some of the
exhibitions given frequently at cavalry
posts outshine even the best efforts of
carefully trained circus rider.
1t usually takes a month or two of In
struction to get the recruit properly seated
on his horse, and the other things only come
by constant practice. During the time the
rookie Is learning TO manage his mount
he is also put to work al other things He
is taught how to take care of the horse,
first and foremost. He is given instruction
in grooming by his first sergeant the
man assigned to instruct him. and he is
also very likely to receive a hint now and
then from one of his officers His instruc-
ton In grooming, he will probably think, is
the most onerous and useless task he has to
perform. He will soon get over this how
ever, and will begin to take pride in the
condition of his mount. He is held respon-
sible for its proper care by the troop COM
mander. and he will learn very quickly
when he Is remiss, and in a not too gentle
fashion, either.
His knowledge In the drill regulations and
guard duty is being increased each day
after his enlistment also, and he is learning
what the word police means when APP
piled to his quarters and his troop kitchen
The proper policing of the quarters, the
kitchens and the stables forms one of the
most important things he is required to
know. In the army the word police"
means to cleanse, and to cleanse well. No
excuse is taking for bad policing. The re-
cruit learns more from day to day, and in
time, three years, old soldiers say he
reaches that stage of his career which en-
titles him to be called cavalryman.
During the past year a system of athletic |
meetings in the posts and departments has |
been inaugurated in the army Cavalrymen
are required to have a certain knowledge of