209 



hot-headed, ignorant trainer, and for whose half-done 

 work other men often have to suffer. 



HOW TO TRAIN HIM TO BE STEADY IN THE 

 RANKS AND TO STAND FIRE. 



Scarcely anything looks worse in a regiment than 

 a horse that is continually shifting about. It is im- 

 possible to maintain a good line with a horse addicted 

 to this habit, therefore the rider should endeavour 

 to keep him partially collected when drawn up in 

 line, unless the comman.d is to ** Sit at ease " — " Sit 

 easy" — when the feeling over him can be relaxed, 

 and the rider should always make much of him by 

 patting him gently on the neck with the right hand. 

 It is necessary that cavalry horses should stand 

 perfectly quiet under fire. This part of their tuition 

 should be given with great care. The trainer should 

 always have an attendant along with him, and the first 

 lesson should be given in a large enclosure. The 

 trainer should hold the horse by a rein about twelve 

 feet long, whilst the attendant fires off light charges 

 of powder from a small pistol at a considerable dis- 

 tance from the horse. If he is punished at this 

 stage, he will naturally conceive the idea that the 

 fire is intended to firighten and hurt him, and will 

 grow more excited as it proceeds. The trainer should 

 always wait until the horse is perfectly steady, and 

 then proceed with the instructions as described. This 

 training should be continued for several days, when 

 he should be taken outside and the same lessons 



