90 THE* HORSEMAN. 



Before attempting this difficult and apparently danger- 

 ous exercise, the rider should not fail to examine care- 

 fully the equipments and satisfy himself of the strength 

 and security of the girths, stirrup leathers, &c. In a 

 word, the success and safety of the rider in almost every 

 performance of the horse depend materially upon the 

 proper adjustment of the appointments. 



SECTION XII. Pistol Practice. 



As there is a pistol exercise embraced in almost every 

 system of cavalry tactics, we have deemed it unnecessary 

 to swell this work with all the details of drawing, load- 

 ing, firing, and returning pistol. 



We shall merely give the safest and most expeditious 

 mode of cocking the pistol without the aid of the bridle 

 hand, together with a few hints on firing, &c. 



After drawing the pistol from the holster, hold it ver- 

 tically in the right hand, arm half extended, the barrel 

 or cock to the left, the thumb extended on the hammer 

 or screw of the cock, the middle finger under, and the 

 fore finger above or within the guard to steady it while 

 cocking 



To fire the pistol (See Plate XXV.), hold it in the 

 manner prescribed for cocking, and when at the proper 

 distance from the object to be fired at, drop the muzzle 

 and pull trigger. 



In firing at the heads, the principles of the gallop 





