MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 157 



HINTS ON MARCH DISCIPLINE 



1. Do you realize that a good discipline or the reverse shows up 

 more on the march than at any other time? 



2. Do you and your drivers dismount as a matter of course when 

 halted? Do you realize the importance of getting the weight off the 

 horse's back on every possible opportunity? All mounted men, officers 

 included, should walk and lead at intervals. Do you see that drivers 

 do not quit their teams, but remain near heads of their horses? Do you 

 allow drivers to smoke when at a halt of not over 10 minutes duration? 



3. Do you see that your men never slouch in the saddle? 



4. When on the march, do you supervise your command and not 

 always ride at the head? See that your chiefs of section do the same. 

 You should see that the horses are being properly kept up in draft, that 

 harness is properly fitted (this often becomes apparent, only when on 

 the march), carriages not overloaded, the proper balance of the pole 

 maintained (this can not be done if the men are allowed to ride except 

 in their places). 



5. Do you see that your horses are watered and fed whenever pos- 

 sible on the march and that girths are slackened? 



6. Do you realize that a horse can not drink its fill or even drink com- 

 fortably with a man sitting on its back, or with a bit in its mouth? 



7. Do you take severe action in all cases of ill treatment of horses? 



RESTS 



Drivers are required : 



1. To raise the collars and examine the shoulders for injuries, report- 

 ing any discovered. The collars may be unsnapped and laid back on 

 the saddle. 



2. To rub the hand over the bearing surface of the collar to see that 

 it is clean and smooth. 



3. With a cloth to wipe the perspiration, if any, from the bearing 

 surface of the collar and from the shoulders. 



4. On marches, or when the draft has been such as to cause steady 

 and constant pressure against the shoulders, to restore and stimulate 

 the circulation in them by hand rubbing, being careful on finishing to 

 leave the hair lying smooth and flat. 



5. To look over and adjust such parts of the harness as need it. 



6. In addition, if a wheel driver, to relieve the weight on the necks of 

 his horses by properly placing the limber or pole prop ; on muddy roads 

 to wipe the mud off the martingales. 



INTERVALS AND DISTANCES 



Intervals between — 



Pairs in line, 1 horse length, 3 yards. 



Teams in line, 1 team length, 3 yards for each pair. 



Hitched carriages in line, 1 hitched carriage length, 17 yards for a 3 

 pair team. 



