Evening star., 1936-02-13
It's Up to the Horse
So Our Equine Editor Finds in Fort Myer
Trick Ride.
Trick Ride.

sense over journalistic horsemarshiD.
SO, at 1880 Of the appointed day.
/ slipped Surreptitiously into the rid.
ing fall. skeDtically praying that per-
haps the hour was meant to be lois
that it would be all over. There were
two groups Of soldiers in the ring, en-.
gagged in preliminary exercises. Capt.
Carson's striker" came over leading
a sturdy and docile-looking horse.
This is Prince" he said.
'Hullo," ] said feebly.
Prince turned his head slightly to
the side, regarded the hounds-tooth
riding coat and the non-regulation
breeches. distinctly heard somebody
say, We'll, I'm damned" suspected
the Prince.
After mounting, Lieut.. Luebber-
mann rode over. "That horse" he
said, "is just bit older than you are"
"And probably twice as smart" I
added, grinning. The lieutenant
caught himself on the verge of a
hearty Eyes" He turned and rode
back to the soldiers, signaling that
I was to warm up with them II the
idea pleased. 1t did. We walked,
trotted and cantered in circles.
Then we lined up to rehearse the
orill. Sergt. ToSton, one of the more
famous non-coms on the post, was
assigned to be my counselor, guide
and friend. Before the start he ex-
planned the entire ride, the routine in
full.
Brides Used First.
1t made a very mild impression on
a pounding heart and a throbbing
head. The first time, we went through
the maneuvers using brides. That
was help. At least it gave one an
idea what was supposed to happen.
To wit, the two divisions lined up at
opposite ends Of the hall, rode toward
one another in single file, met at the
center, turned into column of twos,
then went of oblquely and swung
into a company front for the salute.
Next the company divided at the CEN
ter, headed again for respective ends
Of the hall, once there did q right
(or left) face in line of threes, spread
out. The troopers at the other end
did the same. They passed trotting
up the hall. When the first line from
the south met the last from the
north, all halted. There were about
half a dozen other movements, exc
cuted at walk, or trot or canter. One
complete about face. One passing
movement at a gallop. Formation Of
a straight line again, with the entire
line revolving like giant spoke IN
a wheel. Reforming into lines Of
three for the gallop out of the han.
Then we formed again. Throat
latches were unfastened. When the
troop had formed for salute, brides
were removed and slung over the
shoulder. The signal light flashed
and we moved oil. There is not much
TO be said about the rest of it. Prince
turned at the right times, stopped at
the right times, cantered when he
should, walked when the time was
ripe. So did the other horses. Oc-
casionally a trooper had to administer
a AIS44l o4dP OAl l4AC llCNh W POk 441o
mount in perfect alignment, or sharp
en- the angle of a turn. The rest was
matter of leg pressure and wise
horses.
The drill cannot be called an
easy stunt, because at least 20 solid
hours Of practice had been spent
bringing it to perfection. And any
way you look at it, it still seems
marvellous that a horse could carry an
untutored stranger through such a
complicated series of twists and turns
20 hours or so. Yet it was really
not very hard work for the novice.
Prince was that smart.
We all dismounted and bridled the
horses again. Sergt. Toston rode UP
to the spot where Capt. Carson, Lieut..
Luebbermann and were chatting.
I'm the non-coms Jump ride, does
Mr.. Phillips want only to remove his