178 Training the Saddle Horse 



in the Rarey method. If at any time the horse be- 

 comes unsteady, his head and tail are tied together 

 again and a new start is made. This is continued 

 until he becomes perfectly familiar with the firing 

 of guns. 



The cavalry horse. — The work of the army is 

 often carried out under rough conditions, and it is 

 important that the cavalry horse be trained at the 

 jump as well as at the walk, trot and canter. He 

 should be so thoroughly educated that the rider can 

 control the horse's movements by the legs and 

 voice in case both hands should be engaged in operat- 

 ing the guns. As soon as the horse will perform the 

 movements alone, he should be placed in the ranks 

 and taught to act in unison with the other mounts. 



The scouting horse. — In addition to the training 

 suggested for the cavalry horse, the scout's mount 

 should be taught to lie down at the command of 

 the rider and permit him to fire over his reclining 

 body. Some horses are very easily taught to lie 

 down. This is accomplished by the Rarey method 

 (p. 212), or by some modification of it. The horse 

 is laid down gently as described, and while down 

 is caressed. Then he is let up and the process re- 

 peated ; this time he is commanded to ^^lie down" 

 or tapped on the.back of the front legs with the whip, 

 and an instant later his feet are drawn up by the 

 ropes and he goes down again. Caress him as be- 

 fore. The process is repeated until the horse will 



