LIGHT HORSE. 201 



of tlie proceedings^ however, routine and red tape usually 

 step in, and, combining tlieir forces, drive common sense 

 and practical horsemanship out of the field. A sports- 

 man possessing a young horse trained to the extent men- 

 tioned above, would take him out on the roads a little, if 

 he were destined to be a hack; if a hunter, his jumping 

 education would commence as soon as he thoroughly 

 understands the indications of rein and heel. But this 

 course of proceeding is not laid down in the cavalry 

 regulations, consequently cannot be followed. It is true 

 that the trooper is supposed to be both a hack and a 

 hunter, as far as the capabilities of doing the duties of 

 each go, and he is thus prepared for them. To make him 

 a clever fencer, or rather to teach him to jump (for in the 

 eyes of a riding master of dragoons all fences are alike, 

 and to be negociated alike), he is made to jump over a 

 bar in the school. As much care is taken with this part 

 of his education as with any other ; he is first led over 

 the bar as it lies on the ground, and it is gradually 

 raised until he leaps it at a fair height, neatly and coolly. 

 And so far this is a wise and horsemanlike course of 

 instruction ; but unluckily it stops there. The horse is 

 never asked to jump anything but the bar, nor is he 

 ridden about the roads by himself. And what is the 

 result ? Why, that nineteen out of twenty troopers 

 make a fuss about leaving the ranks, if they do not 

 decline to do so altogether ; and that when confronted 

 with a small ditch or grip, they either refuse or fall at it, 

 to the damage of their rider^s bones, and to the increase 

 of work for the regimental surgeon. When the remount 

 knows all his paces in the school, he is ridden by degrees 

 with arms. Some object to the sword, others to the car- 

 bine ; but, as a rule, the better bred the young one is, the 



