114 MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 



The riders being dismounted, in line with intervals at the commands : 

 1. BY THE RIGHT (LEFT). 2. FALL OUT, the right rider leads 

 directly to the stable or picket line. The other riders follow and com- 

 plete the execution of the command as indicated above. If the riders 

 are facing their respective positions on the picket line, the command 

 FALL OUT may be given. Each rider then moves directly to his 

 place. Under the directions of the instructor each rider removes his 

 equipment, cares for and secures his horse, cleans his equipment, and 

 places the latter as prescribed. 



The instructor satisfies himself by inspection that the horses and 

 equipments are properly cared for and that the precautions required on 

 the return from exercise have been observed. The men are then or- 

 dered to fall in, marched to the rider parade, and are there dismissed 

 as prescribed, in the school of the rider dismounted. 



To gather the horse: Having a light pressure of the bit against the 

 horse's mouth and a light feel of the lower legs against the sides, 

 increase the pressure of the lower legs, heels well down, and slightly 

 increase the pressure of the bit against the bars by squeezing the 

 fingers on the reins. 



This is called gathering the horse. It serves as a signal to attract 

 the attention of the horse and to prepare him to respond promptly to 

 the subsequent application of the aids. The gather should be employed 

 at the preparatory command whenever the corresponding command of 

 execution is to involve response on the part of the horse to the applica- 

 tion of the aids. This preparatory signal to the horse should always 

 be the same whatever may be the movement that is to be executed, and 

 whatever the gait at which the horse may be moving. 



To move forward : Being at a halt, at the command : 1. FORWARD, 

 gather the horse by slight pressure of rein and leg aids sufficient to 

 bring horse to collected "attention." At command: 2. MARCH, close 

 the legs (already in contact with the horse) with a quick, sharp pres- 

 sure, the hand remaining passive. If the horse does not respond at 

 once by moving forward continue until the horse moves forward at a 

 walk. A succession of similar leg pressures each quick, distinct and 

 should be given with a degree of force graduated to the sensitiveness of 

 the horse. A long continued squeezing efifect with the legs is particu- 

 larly to be avoided. 



To halt: Being at the walk, at the command : 1. SQUAD gather the 

 horse. At the command : 2. HALT, sit well down in the saddle and 

 carry the weight of the body backward and alternating act by the 

 direct reins until the horse stops. 



By the right flank: 1. BY THE RIGHT FLANK, 2. MARCH. At 

 the first command gather the horse. At the second command carry 

 both hands to the right until the horse has turned through an arc of 90 

 degrees, and then replace the hands and move straight in the new direc- 

 tion. During the movement the legs maintain impulsion and hold the 

 horse's body so that it follows the curve on which he is turning ; that is, 

 if the horse tends to carrv his haunches to the inside of the curve, the 



