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repeated. The chargers of officers should be specially 

 trained in this branch of their work, and should be 

 made to stand perfectly steady during firing, either 

 mounted or dismounted. Pistols should frequently 

 be fired from their backs, because if an officer get 

 into a tight corner at outpost work and his horse 

 become restive under fire, he will defend himself 

 at great disadvantage, and may sacrifice his life in 

 consequence. With care and discretion it is amaz- 

 ing how soon a horse will stand fire if his temper 

 is reasonably good. The necessity of horses remain- 

 ing steady under fire was frequently demonstrated 

 during the recent South African war. When horses 

 that are left in the hands of a few troopers behind 

 the firing line stampede at the sound of rifle fire, 

 it generally spells disaster to their riders, because 

 they are easily surrounded, especially if opposed by 

 mounted troops, therefore no part of a horse's train- 

 ing is more important than this. Horses should 

 also be familiarised with music, as no regiment is 

 complete without its band, but the majority of horses, 

 although somewhat nervous at first, very soon become 

 exceedingly fond of music, and will prick their ears 

 in appreciation of the inspiriting strains. 



HOW TO MANAGE FOUR HORSES. 



At shooting practice, when each three troopers 

 dismount and every fourth trooper takes charge of 

 the four horses, and the order is given to march, 

 the rider must, so to speak, feel and collect, not 



