MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 127 



It is executed as follows: The horse moving at a trot, the 

 trooper inclines the upper part of his body forward, then 

 supporting himself on the stirrups while maintaining the 

 clinging of his knees he rises under the impulsion of the horse, 

 maintains his position detached from the saddle while the 

 succeeding impulse is produced, again sits down in the saddle, 

 and continues in this way, avoiding alternate impulses. 



At the beginning the mechanism of posting is made easier 

 to the trooper by causing him to stroke the horse's neck or to 

 grasp a lock of the mane with either hand, thus determining 

 the forward inclination of the body. 



Its proper execution requires that the seat be raised moder- 

 ately, that contact with the saddle be resumed gently and 

 without shock, that the full support of the stirrup be obtained 

 while keeping the lower leg steady, that the ankle joint be 

 supple, and that the heel be kept lower than the toe. 



243. Care of horses and saddlery: The recruits will be given 

 talks and practical illustrations in every phase of the care of 

 horses and the care of saddlery. This in addition to their ' 

 daily attention to those subjects as a matter of routine. 



244. The use of arms, mounted. — During the period in which 

 the instruction in the school of the trooper is held, there must 

 be thorough instruction in the use of arms mounted. After the 

 first few drills there should be daily instruction in some phase 

 of this important part of the trooper's training. Progress in 

 the more advanced steps of this instruction must necessarily 

 depend upon the trooper's progress in horsemanship; but by 

 making the dismounted instruction thorough and keeping it 

 well in advance of the corresponding parts of the mounted 

 program, many difficulties will be obviated and much time 

 saved. Success with the pistol and saber will be dependent,, 

 upon that familiarity with their use that can be gained only" 

 by daily practice extending over a considerable period. The 

 dismounted instruction already prescribed in connection with 

 the use of the weapons must be supplemented by thorough 

 mounted work at all gaits, when passing obstacles, etc. The 

 troope. must learn to control his horse thoroughly with one 

 hand while carrying and using his weapon in the other; he 

 must learn to handle his weapon mounted with a minimum of 

 danger to himself, his comrades, or his horse. The principal 



