The state herald., 1908-01-10
MUST KNOW
HOW To RIDE
PRESIDENT EMPHASIZES IMPoR.
TANCE OF HoRSEMANSHlP
FOR ARMY OFFICERS.
DEFENDS RIrING TEST
PHOTOGRAPHS OF UNIQUE FEATs
OF HoRSEMANsHlP SENT
CONGRESS.

Notwithstanding photographs
from lifs illustrative of hair.raisins
exploits in horsemanship, form tho
unique exhibit sent to Congress by di-
rection of the President to accompany
recommendations from himself and
the chief of stan for the betterment OF
army riding. These pictures arc in
tended TO show how far ahead OF
American military men are European
officers N the art Of equation. They
certainly constitute remarkable So
ries. One of the most thrilling pic
lures represents an Italian cavalryman
riding over twenty.foot perpendicu-
lar cliff, the photograph being taken in
series TO Illustrate the sagacity of tho
horse and the skill of the rider in
maintaining a poise within the center
of gravity in different stages OF the
descent There are pictures OF Ger
man student officers apparently leap
ing from hill TO hill, of fat majors and
lieutenant colonels of the same ma
tlonality wallowing through bogs and
Bwamps, over hedges. French obstacle
riding, he famous drag hunt of the
German army and stirring pictures OF
the hounds In full cry on boar hunts.
The official correspondence with
tn Sc pictures consists Of a letter from
the President to the secretary Of war
on December Sd last. requesting hirn
to secure Legislation TO make Infantry
captains mounted officers and estab-
lish rpm1unt dcpois. saying.
Both ut these measures are essen
tial to the Improvement Of horseman-
ship in the army"
Another letter from the President to
the chairman OF the house committee
on military AFFAIRS transmits a report
from Mai Gen. BELL, chief Of stan. eE-
planning the photographs. the Presi-
dent saying:
''rho field officers OF our army can
not be held exclusively responsible for
the poor riding which has been fire.
qucntly observed among them. The
quality Of our horses does not equal
that OF mounts used In foreign armies.
Furthermore. though all infantry cap
an Infantry officer In our service has
| little opportunity 10 practice riding
until he becomes a field officer"
General Bell prefnces his own ro-
port OF quoting note from the Pres
ident referring TO "a number OF press
comments, apparently inspired by tho
impression that such n test riding
ability was something extraordinary
and unhcard OF" and requesting him
10 state the requirements In foreign
armies In this respect. Speaking gen
orally. the report shows that the rule
in Europe is that all mounted officers
OF every grade shall keep themselves
and their mounts In NJ condition for
instant war. and most OF them main
tain schools where student officers are
constantly under instruction In horse
mnnship.
Taking mp tho great military coun-
tries separately, General Bell praises
tho Frcach cavalry Al officers OF
cavalry take Il two months course In
oquitntion and In endurance whenever
they become majors and lieutenant cob
onels, at ages varying from thirty nNo
20 tifty.aye years. and weights ranging
from 1855 to 800 pounds The course
includoR obstacle jumping. hedge and
water jumping and cross-countty Work
generally. Tho school horses are used
and changed every day, and tho ON
Ger spend about four and a half hours
daily In the saddle Besides this he
exercises his own two or three private
mounts. stoopleohaHlng Is frequently
indulgcd In. and II Is not nm unconn-
mon thing to see Eray'haircd majors
or lieutenant eolunoa indulglng In this
sport. ono French test last year con
sisted OF one day Of school work. one
day for march approSlmating forty.
Ave miles at an average speed OF ciEht
miles AMI hour, one two'mlln htooplo
chase and ono days obstacle Jumping.