CAVALRY OR MILITARY BIT. 71 



m"" that it is easier and better for the horse, while his 

 rider can do more and do it better with it than with the 

 regulation bit as now used with the watering bit. The 

 great advantage is in the two rings for the bridoon 

 reins, which, when drawn, do not put any strain on the 

 lever and the curb that the curb rein alone works with 

 such effect on the most trivial occasions, as described in 

 the preceding chapter. In this bridle we have the prin- 

 ciples and advantages of the Pelham, thus abandoning at 

 certain times, for convenience, the troublesome watering 

 bridle, which our men in the late war found of more use 

 for carrying bundles of hay and straw to their horses than 

 for riding with, and it is doubtful if its value in this re- 

 spect was equivalent to the trouble of carrying it. 



Articles furnished cavalry soldiers are not always put 

 exclusively to their legitimate uses. His hat holds alter- 

 nately his head, water and grain ; his blanket covers his 

 body and keeps it warm at night and cool by day — carries 

 corn in the ear and chaff and utensils to camp. His 

 shelter tent (^* a covert from the storm and a shadow from 

 the heat") carries bread, sauitarj supplies and ample 

 loot. His bridle serves as a halter ; his saddle bears 

 his body on the march and his head in the hour of re- 

 pose ; his surcingle binds on his saddle on the daily march 

 and serves as an impromptu trace in hauling boxes of 

 mud to chink his winter hut, while his saddle blanket, 

 at the last sound of the evening trumpet call, covers his 

 feet and keeps off the chilling midnight air. His pistol 

 kills a foe to-day and a friend to-morrow ; his sword hews 

 down men at morn and wood and bread in the bivouac at 

 even, and at night marks his shallow grave. By proper 

 instruction the recruit can soon learn to understand how 

 to ease his horse's mouth and still have a rein to balance 

 himself till he gets his seat. 



The argument against a substitute for the watering bit 

 will ))e that a horse can't drink with the curb bit, and 



