MILITAKY HYGIENE 945 



time. The instinct of gregariousness is so strong in horses, 

 that the effect of working them together in a riding school 

 is to produce a type not fifty per cent, of which will go 

 anywhere by themselves, but always need a companion ! 



3. He must be taught to stand without being held when 

 the man is dismounted, so that the number of horse holders 

 in action is reduced, and the firing line in consequence 

 strengthened. This training should be begun from the day 

 of joining, so that the animal recognises it as part of his 

 duty never to move when left standing alone ; the time 

 spent in teaching a horse not to require holding when the 

 man is off his back is of inestimable value. 



4. Horses do not require to be taught to move in a body ; 

 that is their natural method of life. Although in more 

 than half of their soldiering they will be required to move 

 in masses, inasmuch as they do this naturally no lengthy 

 time need be devoted to its instruction ; what requires to 

 be taught and insisted upon is to move alone. 



5. They require to be taught to change their legs in both 

 the canter and gallop, and made equally handy with either 

 the near or off leg leading. The object of this is to save a 

 sprain when the leading leg tires (see p. 770). 



6. He does not require to be taught to close to his right 

 or left in the ranks, for his tendency is to hug or rub up 

 against every horse he stands next to, or walks by the 

 side of. 



7. He must be taught to walk, trot, canter, gallop, jump, 

 and stand firing, and the whole of this should be imparted 

 in the open. No unnecessary turning on haunches to wrench 

 the hocks, no frequent turning on the forehand to wrench 

 the coronets, no acrobatic feats, but plain straightforward 

 work, such as is expected from any horse. 



The training of a cavalry horse should be individual not 

 collective ; he never requires to be taught to work in a 

 mass for it is the delight of his heart, but he requires a 

 lot of training to teach him to go by himself, to walk 

 properly, and to jump. The latter must be done with the 

 greatest care, and only when the joints are fit for the strain. 



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