THE CAVALRY BIT-AND-BRIDOON". 65 



curb bit until the men got well shook into their saddles 

 and learned to use it in moderation. 



As the ground and country that cavalry has to cross, 

 manoeuvre and tight over in war time is never made to 

 order, the horse should be bitted to meet every emer- 

 gency, and as leaping with the curb bit is both uncertain 

 and dangerous for both man and horse, the bridoon or 

 its equivalent should be available. However carefully we 

 may plan and provide in peace time for certain services 

 in the field in war, we find that, when pnt to the prac- 

 tical test, some things are objectionable and even useless, 

 and therefore abandoned. The watering bridle was one 

 of them. It was cumbersome and took time to put on 

 the horse in critical moments, when suddenly attacked 

 on picket posts or during halts when the order was given 

 to ungirth, unfold blankets, take ofi" the bridles and 

 *' saddle up." 



THE BEIDOOX BIT II?" ACTION". 



The watering or bridoon bit, or its equivalent, is used, 

 or should be, in riding forward at speed, sword in hand 

 to point or thrust. The curb bit in halting, falling back, 

 turning round, or throwing the horse on his haunches to 

 deliver a cut to the right rear, or in delivering the rear 

 cut and point, and other assaults, is used as follows in the 



CAVALRY CHARGE : 



As a cavalry charge frequently resolves itself into 

 a mtUe, a series of hand-to-hand encounters take place 

 before the soldier gets out of the fight, if he ever does. 

 Should the enemy's line be composed of cavalry, and it 

 breaks, and the pursuers with spurs pressed home and 

 bridoon rein in hand, bring it to bay, cuts, points, par- 

 ries and guards are resorted to in quick succession, in 

 both attack and defense, as circumstances require at each 

 eventful moment in the progress of the fight for life. 



