FORMATION OF A RIDING-SCHOOL 



distribution had led to some extraordinary, not to say 

 comical combinations. For example, a burly individual, 

 weighing over fifteen stone would find himself in possession 

 of an animal barely up to ten, while, on the other hand, 

 some slim, featherweight youth would perhaps be mated 

 with a charger of elephantine proportions. 



However, these little errors were rectified next day, 

 when, permission being accorded for the men to exchange 

 with each other, we were soon most suitably equipped. But 

 soon there rose a difficulty which had been clearly over- 

 looked by those responsible for our creation as a mounted 

 corps. 



To enlist a man and provide him with a horse, was easy 

 enough, but for the combination to be of any practical use 

 as a fighting machine it was obviously necessary that the 

 man should be able to ride the horse ! 



Now, as it happened, most of the men were sailors by 

 profession, " Handy men " no doubt ready to go anywhere 

 and do anything but as to any knowledge of horsemanship, 

 even in its most elementary form, as innocent as the babe 

 unborn ! 



However, since as a mounted corps we had been raised, 

 and mounted troops were most urgently required, we must 

 either qualify ourselves as such or suffer the degradation 

 of being disbanded as useless. The last was not to be 

 thought of for an instant, for apart from the ignominy of 

 it, the rumours of the cruel and increasing massacres that 

 reached us daily had worked on our feelings to a degree 

 difficult to describe and had created a desire for vengeance 

 not easy to forego. 



Under these circumstances, we all felt that there was 

 but one thing to be done the men who could not ride 

 must learn to do so ! A deputation conveying a proposal 

 to this effect was accordingly sent to the Commanding 

 Officer, and his approval being readily accorded, a riding 

 school was immediately started, some half a dozen men 

 who could ride acting as instructors. 



As for myself, being accustomed to riding from my 

 earliest childhood, I was deputed with two or three others 

 equally proficient, to break in some of the most untractable 

 of our late purchases. 



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