114 MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 



confine himself to the commands and means prescribed in the 

 School of the Trooper. 



TO FOLD THE SADDLE BLANKET. 



178. The blanket, after being well shaken, will be folded into 

 six thicknesses, as follows : Hold it well up by the two cor- 

 ners, the long way up and down; double it lengthwise (so the 

 fold will come between the " U " and " S "), the folded corner 

 (middle of blanket) in the left hand; take the folded corner 

 between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, thumb 

 pointing to the left ; slip the left hand down the folded edge 

 two-thirds its length and seize it with the thumb and second 

 finger; raise the hands to the height of the shoulders, the 

 blanket between them extended ; bring the hands together, 

 the double fold falling outward ; pass the folded corner from 

 the right hand into the left hand, between the thumb and 

 forefinger, slip the second finger of the right hand between 

 the folds and seize the double folded corner ; turn the left 

 (disengaged) corner in and seize it with the thumb and fore- 

 finger of the right hand, the second finger of the right hand 

 stretching and evening the folds ; after evening the folds grasp 

 the corners and shake the blanket well in order to smooth the 

 folds ; raise the blanket and place it between the chin and 

 breast ; slip the hands down half way, the first two fingers 

 outside, the other fingers and thumb of each hand inside, seize 

 the blanket with the thumbs and first two fingers and let the 

 part under the chin fall forward ; hold the blanket up, arms 

 extended, even the lower edges, seize the middle points be- 

 tween the thumbs and forefingers, and flirt the outside part 

 over the right arm ; the blanket is thus held before placing it 

 on the horse. 



Wliile retaining the general method of folding the blanket 

 as above indicated, trooj) commanders will require the blanket 

 to be refolded frequently with a view to equalizing the wear 

 on the different sections of the blanket. 



TO PUT ON THE BLANKET AND SUKCINGLB. 



179. The instructor commands: BLANKET. 



Approach the horse on the near (left) side, with the blanket 

 folded and held as just described; place it well forward on 



