MOUNTED INSTRUCTION 219 



Allow forty minutes to unsaddle, clean the equipment and groom. 

 Return the squad to the stables. Form line and explain and demon- 

 strate, "prepare to dismount" and "dismount," Par. 245. Have the 

 men dismount. Explain and demonstrate how to unsaddle and to 

 remove the bridle. Pars. 229 and 235. Have the bits washed and dried, 

 inspect them and have the equipment put up. Issue grooming kits, 

 explain and demonstrate grooming by detail. 



Have the men "stand to heel" and groom by detail. Impress upon 

 them the absolute necessity for a thorough grooming. 



Lesson 2. 



Assign men to the same horses they had in the first lesson. Issue 

 grooming kits. "Stand to heel" briskly. ' Have horses examined and 

 brushed off. Cease grooming, "stand to heel." Assemble the men, 

 using one horse, explain and demonstrate the method of picking up 

 and holding a horse's foot. In raising the hind foot, insist upon the man 

 swinging his inside leg well to the rear, the horse's fetlock resting on 

 the thigh of the man's leg. Par. 39 (Army Horseshocr). Explain why 

 and how to clean the feet. Whenever cases of thrush are found, 

 assemble the men and explain the cause, result and remedy. 



Issue horse equipment. Refold saddle blankets several times. Have 

 the men saddle by detail and adjust their bridles. In this connection 

 have sufficient holes punched in the check straps of the new model 

 bridles to permit their proper adjustment. 



Form line to the right, the men standing to horse properly. Explain 

 and demonstrate prepare to mount and mount, and prepare to dis- 

 mount, and dismount. Have the men execute this several times. Insist 

 on their keeping the toe of their left foot from touching the horse. 

 This can be done by pointing the toe to the rear in mounting and to 

 the front in dismounting and keeping their left knee against the horse. 



Move out on the track as in the first lesson. After a few minutes at 

 a walk, from a circle, have all horses faced inward. From the center 

 of the circle explain in detail the position of the soldier mounted, and 

 give reasons. Demonstrate the habitual incorrect positions and the 

 ill eft'ects to both rider and horse. 



IMove back on the track and change hands frequently. Pars. 250, 

 252. 



Have men come to the center of the track to adjust equipment or 

 stirrups. .Study each man and have him properly adjust his stirrups. 



On returning to the picket line, unsaddle and groom by detail. 

 Continue the exactness and snap. 



Lesson 3, 



Repeat Lessons 1 and 2. Get more speed in the saddling and groom- 

 ing, but not at the expense of exactness. 



Explain the holding of the reins. Pars. 250, 251, 252, and 253. Have 

 it executed. Explain at ease, rest and route order. Par. 258 



Explain gathering the horse to move forward and halt. Pars. 297, 

 298, and 299. Have it executed several times. 



