32 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



Care of saddlery. 

 (Cav. Drill Reg. 1916.) 



975. The saddlery and equipment must always be cleaned 

 after use. This duty, like the care of the horse, is to be re- 

 garded as part of the mounted duty itself ; thus a drill is not 

 over until horse, saddlery, arms, and equipments have been 

 put again in condition. According to need, the leather is 

 simply wiped off with a damp sponge or fully taken apart and 

 well soaped and cleaned. In no case must it be soaked in 

 water. 



If the soap used does not contain a sufficient amount of free 

 oil the leather must be oiled to keep it pliable. A mixture of 

 one-half neat's-foot oil and one-half mutton tallow, well rubbed 

 in, keeps leather in good condition. Special care is taken to 

 keep the underside of the skirts of the saddle and the parts 

 which do not come in contact with the clothing well oiled. 

 The seat and outside of the skirts will rarely require oil. 



Metal parts are kept clean and free from rust; they may 

 require oiling if not regularly used. 



The saddle blanket must be kept clean and soft and free 

 from wrinkles. After use it must be dried and then well 

 shaken (unfolded). It must never be folded wet and left 

 thus with the saddle. Provision will be made in the saddle 

 room or stables for hanging it up to dry. 



When necessary the blanket should be thoroughly cleansed 

 by repeated immersions in tepid soapsuds and hung over a pole 

 or line to dry without wringing or pressing it. 



Section 6. The surplus kit. 



The surplus kit for each man consists of — ■ 

 1 breeches, pair. 

 1 drawers, pair. 

 1 shirt, olive drab. 



1 shoes, russet-leather, pair. 



2 stockings, pair. 

 1 undershirt. 



1 shoe laces, extra, pair. 



