MOUNTED SERVICE SCHOOL 



Fort Riley, Kan., March 12, 1909. 

 The Board met at 12 noon in compliance with the fore- 

 going order. 



Present: All the members. 



1. Since the publication of General Orders, No. 186, War 

 Department, series of 1908, many commmiications have 

 been received from mounted officers throughout the service 

 requesting information concerning the system of equitation 

 taught at the Mounted Service School. 



2. The need of a manual or pamphlet, setting forth the 

 principles of the system, had been recognized prior to the 

 date of issue of said general order. Manuals are used in 

 other courses of instruction at the school and greatly facili- 

 tate rapid progress in instruction. Careful notations of the 

 results of experience gained by instructors in handling suc- 

 ceeding classes improve these manuals from year to year 

 until they are in condition to be used by graduates as 

 authoritative books of reference. 



3. In the month of January the members of this Board, 

 after thoroughly considering and discussing the feasibility 

 of preparing a satisfactory manual of Equitation in the pres- 

 ent stage of development of the course of instruction at the 

 Mounted Service School reached the following conclusions: 



a. Since the adoption of the French system (October, 

 1907) there has not been sufficient opportunity to apply its 

 principles in the instruction of the enlisted men of the 

 United States Army. 



6. Differences in equipment, in character of mounts, in 

 requirements of service and in facilities for instruction will 

 require certain modifications in the methods of the French 

 system. This system has been gradually evolved and has 

 been subjected to the test of time. Any changes therein 

 should be made only after extended experience and pains- 

 taking study. 



c. As, however, there is urgent need of at least an out- 

 Une of the work to be pursued and inasmuch as General 

 Orders 186, War Department, series 1908, specifically ap- 

 proves and adopts the French system of Equitation it is 

 considered that: 



