Finishing the Horse. 119 



though less powerful opponents, if not to in- 

 cur utter destruction from being charged by a 

 fresh enemy white still in disorder. 



This, we all know, is the vulnerable point 

 of the English cavalry. One crushing, smash- 

 ing charge, usually exhausts their powers. 

 The men straggle slowly back with blown 

 and tired horses, after miles of unnecessary 

 galloping and hecatombs of unnecessary loss ; 

 and the brigade is unserviceable for the rest of 

 the day. Nor is this all. The English trooper 

 is by no means so formidable in single com- 

 bat as his own great strength and courage, 

 combined with that of his horse, ought to 

 make him. With his blunt heavy broad- 

 sword and great pulling charger, he is almost 

 at the mercy of the Sikh or Mahratta, with 

 his keen scimitar and quick supple Arab, and 

 is scarcely more than a match for the French 

 dragoon, with his long rapier and docile 

 galloway. 



The reason of this is obvious. Except 

 just so much bitting as is necessary to make 

 him carry himself handsomely at the halt and 

 walk, and just so much reining back and pas- 

 saging as is necessary to place him properly 



