MILITARY METHODS 237 



on horseback. Even the riding masters of the 

 period could not quite spoil his natural horse- 

 manship. To-day the recruit comes from a 

 town, looks on the horse as dangerous, and 

 lacks the muscles of hip and thigh which must 

 be developed before a man rides well. 



For civil purposes, the stock saddle, and a 

 little guidance from horsemen will teach a man 

 to ride, and the riding school would merely 

 delay his progress. But Army purposes require 

 a firm seat, a gentle hand to control the horse 

 for mihtary formations, and a perfect supple- 

 ness from the waist upwards for the use of 

 weapons. These three vital needs involve a 

 riding school. So the rookie is introduced to 

 the riding school horse. Outside the school 

 that horse is an iron-mouthed brute, who 

 joggles, and cannot be induced to work apart 

 from his comrades. Inside the school he 

 understands the riding master's talk, goes 

 through the drill with or without a rider, and 

 tries to have some fun out of his rookie to pass 

 away the boring hours until he gets home to 

 stables and a meal 



The first job is to give the rookie confidence 

 in the horse. To inspire the rookie vvith confi- 

 dence, the riding master flicks the horse's heels 

 with a long whip. The rookie's confidence 



