FRENCH HORSEMANSHIP 



285 



During this twelve months' course he has to ride four or 

 five different horses every day. One horse is a trained 

 charger of his own ; a second is a young thoroughhred horse 

 which he has to handle from the first, and break and make into 

 a charger ; the other two or three horses are varied every 

 day, and chosen by the instructors. Great attention is given 

 to jumping and out-of-door training. On all the roads round 

 Saumur there are jumps along the sidings. Steeplechases 





M. DUTECH CLEAEING THE GaTE AT A LeVEL CkOSSING UPON PaPILLON 

 From ' Le Sport Universel Illustri' December 1, 189G. 



are constantly run, prizes given by the Government, and the 

 officers are allowed to ride Government horses. I consider 

 that the present generation of cavalry officers below the 

 rank of colonel ride remarkably well, with graceful easy 

 seats and light hands as a rule. I do not think that there 

 are nearly so many really fine riders as in the English 

 cavalry, but there is more uniformity. Young fellows who 

 are clumsily built and unlikely to make cavalry soldiers are 

 not allowed to enter the cavalry, instead of, as with us. 



