The Militajy Scat, 95 



superior in combat to one that rides only comparatively 

 so, this much is quite certain^ that the former will 

 briiig into and retain in the field a niuch greater pro- 

 portio7z of serviceable horses than the latter, which is 

 in itself an element of success that may be indeed squan- 

 dered away like all others, but ?nust^ if properly taken 

 advantage of, confer great superiority. In fact, what 

 we would say to every cavalry officer of whatever na- 

 tion is this : Your cavalry is very fine ; it has done 

 wonders, and beat all other cavalries in the world ; 

 but it would do still greater miracles, and beat all 

 the rest if you only improved your seat, etc., a little 

 more ; beside which it would cost less — a matter of 

 some importance — and perhaps look quite as well as 

 at present. 



No one, we suppose, will contend that the jockey 

 style of riding can serve as a model for the cavalry 

 soldier ; the kind of work to be done and its duration 

 are totally different. Perhaps the hunting seat deser/es 

 more consideration. This much is certain : it iS of 

 great advantage to cavalry to be able to get a-wi03S a 

 difficult country, and much of its utility will depend on 

 its being able to do this cleverly and in an ordei)/ man- 

 ner. This has been recognized and acted on of late 

 years to a much greater extent than formerjy, and, as 

 we think, very wisely too. Up to a certain time the 

 haute ecole dominated cavalry riding exclusively, and, 

 no doubt, very reasonably, in the then existing semi- 

 cultivated state of Europe, and under the conditions of 

 combat then prevalent. But both of these have vnider- 

 gone great modifications ; and first of all, what the 

 Germans call the " campaign school" was introduced 

 for cavalry purposes ; and more recently still, that 

 very indefinite form called the hunting seat, or rather 

 what is supposed to represent it, has been making con 

 siderable inroads into the domains of the riding-ma? 



