198 UNASKED ADVICE. 



(wMch included Gulf horses, Persians, &c.). Cape Horses^ 

 Australians, and stud breds are tlie four descriptions of 

 horse upon wliicli our Indian Regular Cavalry is mounted. 

 Of course they are armed just as at home, though in 

 dress some little concessions are made to the climate. 

 As I have said, they can beat the home regiments at 

 marching; but the irregulars, on inferior horses, or in 

 deference to Col. Shakespear^s opinion I will say only 

 equally well mounted, beat them again. How is this ? 

 The irregular man is lighter for one thing ; his saddle 

 looks objectionable, but is I think comfortable to the 

 horse, and above all, he rides in his own natural way, 

 and not in an acquired seat. Also he carries no luggage. 

 But chiefly he is a born horseman ; for dragoons, as a 

 rule, are not. Still they might learn more useful horse- 

 manship than they generally do. To be able to go 

 through a double ride in the school, and to sit like a 

 poker, with sword or lance at the carry, in trotting past, 

 is all very well ; but a man should be able to do a good 

 deal more than this before he can defend himself in a 

 single combat — a thing that every dragoon ought to be 

 able to do, although he may not twice in his life have 

 occasion to exercise his talent. Although dragoons 

 might be in some respect better horsemen than they are, 

 they are not the muffs that some ignorant people profess 

 to consider them. In riding restive horses they usually 

 excel civilians, at least the average of them can do this 

 better than the average of even sporting civilians. This 

 is simply because they are more or less used to them. A 

 troop horse in his course of training has to be taught 

 many performances that are not at all natm*al to him. 

 If he has a temper, he probably shows it ; but our system 

 is so far good that sooner or later all horses become 



