MOUNTED INSTRUCTIOM 00 



The standard required of riders. — To be a good military horseman 

 each rider should — 



(a) Have a strong seat. 



(b) Be able to apply correctly the aids by which a horse is controlled. 



(c) Be capable of covering long distances on horseback with the 

 least possible fatigue to his horse and to himself, 



(d) Be capable of riding across country. 



(e) Under proper directions, be able to train an unbroken horse in 

 garrison and in the field, understand how to detect and treat the minor 

 ailments to which the horse is liable, and be a good groom. 



All officers, in addition to being good military horsemen and instruct- 

 ors in riding, must be able to train remounts and to direct their training. 



TO FOLD THE SADDLE BLANKET 



The blanket, after being well shaken, will be folded into six thick- 

 nesses, as follows ; Hold it well up by the two corners, 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 ex- 

 tended ; 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 corners ; turn the left (disengaged) 

 corner in and seize it with the thumb and forefinger 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 out- 

 side, 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 between the thumbs and forefingers, and flirt the 

 outside part over the right arm ; the blanket is thus held before placing 

 it on the horse. 



While retaining the general method of folding the blanket as above 

 indicated, riders will be required to refold the blanket frequently with a 

 view to equalizing the wear on the dii¥erent sections of the blanket. 



TO PUT ON THE BLANKET 



The instructor commands: BLANKET. 



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

 and held just described; place it well forward on his back by tossing 

 the part of the blanket over the right arm to the off (right) side of the 

 horse, still keeping hold of the middle points, slide the blanket once or 



