Instruction

188. (PLATE 19, Fig. 3.) At the command Prepare to mount, Nos. 2 and 6, and the conductor on the left of the front rank, move 2 yards to the front; Nos. 1 and 5, and the conductor on the left of the rear rank, move 2 yards to the rear, keeping opposite their intervals, and regulating by the right. All unhook their sabres when they are worn, and the mounting is then completed as prescribed in No. 151. The instructor then causes the stirrups to be crossed, and commands: Form RANKS. To At the command RANKS, Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 7 stand fast, and the conductors form on them. Nos. 1, 4, 5, and 8 enter the intervals of their ranks without jostling, and without precipitation. The rear rank being formed, closes to the distance of 2 feet from the front.

189. The instructor then explains the use of the spur. If the horse does not obey the legs, the spur should be employed. It is only necessary to use it occasionally, but always vigorously, and at the moment the horse commits the fault. To use the spurs, hold firmly to the horse by the legs; turn the toes a little out; give the rein slightly, and press firmly with the spurs behind the girth, without moving the body, until the horse obeys. He should never be made to feel the spurs unless there is a necessity for it, and then both should be applied at the same moment.

At the first command, gather the horse. At the command MARCH, the cannoneer on the right of each rank executes a turn to the right, and moves forward at the third command, the one of the rear rank approaching in marching to within 1 foot of the one in the front rank. This movement is executed by all the other files in succession. PLATE 19, Fig. 5. In entering the riding-house, the instructor marches the column parallel to the long sides; and when its head is near the middle, commands:

The conductor of the front rank turns to the left, that of the rear rank to the right; when they are within 2 yards of the track, the instructor commands: File right-MARCH - FORWARD. The two columns then march to the right hand, and at the same pace; the cannoneers preserve the distance of 4 feet from head to croup.

The conductor of the rear rank regulates his pace by that of the conductor of the front rank, so that they shall arrive at the opposite angles of the riding-house at the same time. The instructor sees that the cannoneers move at a free and even pace; that they keep their horses straight; that they preserve their distances, and recover them gradually when lost; that they gather their horses a little before arriving at each corner, and execute a turn to the right or to the left, according as they are marching to the right hand, or to the left hand. The movements of each should be independent of those of the one who precedes him, and should alone control his horse.

191. A horse is said to be straight, when his shoulders and haunches are upon the same line. If in marching to the right the horse carries his shoulders to the right, it is necessary to open a little the left rein, and to hold the right leg near. If he carries his haunches to the right, close the right leg and feel lightly the left rein. If he casts himself towards the interior of the riding-house, place him on the track by opening the outer rein and closing the inner leg.

192. The instructor will cause the men to pass frequently from the walk to the trot, and from the trot to the walk. The changes in the gait will be effected gradually.

193. Changes of direction in the breadth of the ridinghouse will be executed so as neither to stop nor check the rear of either column; for this purpose the change will be commenced soon after the heads of columns have entered upon the long sides of the riding-house.

194. (PLATE 20, Fig. 3.) Changes of direction in the length of the riding-house will be executed upon the same principles as those in the breadth, except that the command File right or left, will be given by the instructor as the heads of columns are entering upon the short sides, and the command MARCH, when the conductors are within 3 yards of the middle of their sides, so that the columns will pass near each other.

195. (PLATE 21, Fig. 1.) A change of direction in the length of the riding-house is commenced, and as soon as all the cannoneers have turned, the instructor commands:

The men halt at their proper distances; the instructor then causes them to oblique to the right, (or left,) as prescribed in No. 165; rectifies their positions, if necessary, and commands:

When all move directly to their front, retaining their direction and relative positions. When they arrive near the track, the instructor commands: FORWARD. At this command, each cannoneer executes an oblique to the left, (or right,) so as to follow the track, and moves forward. To execute these movements without halting, the instructor, as soon as the two ranks are in column in the length of the ridinghouse, commands:

At the first command, gather the horse. At the command MARCH, each cannoneer executes the oblique, and keeps directly to his front. At the command FORWARD, given when the cannoneers are near the track, they execute an oblique so as to move in the original direction.

196. In all the preceding changes of direction, the instructor is governed as to time, in giving his commands, by the most advanced conductor, and will then rectify the pace of the other.

197. When the conductors have passed over about a third of the long sides, the instructor commands:

At the first command, gather the horse. At the command MARCH, the conductors, followed by the cannoneers, describe circles between the two tracks. Each horse is kept on the circle with the inner rein, supported at the same time by the leg on that side, the haunches, when necessary, being kept in by the outer leg.

At the command MARCH, the conductors turn to the right, and, at the command FORWARD, pass through the centre of the circle towards the opposite point of the circumference. When they arrive near it, the instructor commands:

At the first command, the conductors turn to the left, and at the command FORWARD, resume their movement in circle. They are followed successively in these movements by the cannoneers. The exercise on the circle and changes of hand are executed at a trot, according to the same principles. The instructor will see that the men maintain themselves in the direction of their horses, and sit squarely. When the instructor wishes to resume the exercise on a right line, he takes care that the conductors are at opposite points of the circumference; and when they arrive on the track of the long sides, he commands FORWARD. At this command, the conductors, followed by the cannoneers, re-enter upon the track.

199. (PLATE 21, Fig. 4.) To re-unite the cannoneers, the instructor causes them to close to a distance of 2 feet, then orders a change of direction in the breadth of the riding-house at the moment the conductors are opposite to each other, the even numbers marching towards the entrance. When they arrive near the middle of the riding-house, the instructor commands: File left and right-MARCH - FORWARD. The conductor of the front rank turns to the left, that of the rear rank to the right, followed by the cannoneers, who approach within 1 foot of each other.

200. When the column reaches the stable yard, or parade, the instructor commands:

At the command MARCH, each of the two leading cannoneers turns to the left, moves forward 5 yards, and halts. The other cannoneers execute the same movement in succession, and take their places, each in his own rank, as prescribed in No. 187. They do not execute the turn until nearly opposite their places.

201. (PLATE 19, Fig. 3.) At the command PREPARE TO DISMOUNT, NOS. 2 and 6, and the conductor on the left of the front rank, move 2 yards to the front; Nos. 1, and 5, and the conductor on the left of the rear rank, move 2 yards to the rear; the cannoneers of each rank keeping opposite their intervals, and dressing by the right. They then complete the dismount as in No. 169.

At this command, Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 7, elevate the right hand, so as to hold their horses firmly, and the conductors form on them; the other numbers advance and take their proper places in the intervals, and the rear rank then closes to 2 feet. The cannoneers file off as prescribed in No. 170. Each man of the rear rank follows, and conforms his movements to those of his front rank man.

202. The stirrups should be of such length that when the cannoneer rises in them there should be a space of not over 4 or 5 inches between his crotch and the saddle. The stirrup should support only the weight of the leg; the foot should be inserted one-third of its length, the heel should be no higher than the toe, and in such position that the spur will not touch the horse in the movements.

203. (PLATE 20, Fig. 1.) The instructor causes the movement to be executed as prescribed in No. 180. As the cannoneers are marching in two columns, the command MARCH will be given when the leading conductors arrive opposite to the last man but one of the other column. At the command FORWARD, the cannoneers move straight forward, and pass through the intervals of the opposite column, keeping their legs near to prevent the horses slackening the gait. The instructor should attach less importance to the uniformity of their movements than to the manner in which each cannoneer manages his horse.

205. To make the cannoneers masters of their horses, and to force them to use both reins and legs, the men will be required to pass in succession from the head to the rear of the column. Each becoming in his turn conductor, will regulate himself accordingly. The movement is executed in each column at the command Leading cannoneer to rear of column. The leading cannoneer leaving the head of the column by a right or left reverse, as indicated by the instructor, moves parallel to it, and again enters it at the rear by another reverse. lie leaves the column so as not to retard those behind him, and on re-entering it, closes to 4 feet from the rear horse.

At the command trot, gather the horse. At the command MARCH, lower the wrists and close the legs progressively until the horse obeys. To halt, the instructor, when the columns are on the long sides, commands: 1. Column. 2. HALT. The instructor requires all the men to set off freely, at a trot, at the command MARCH, and to stop together at the command HALT.

207. The cannoneers, moving at a trot, on the long sides, the instructor commands: TROT OUT. At this command the wrists are lowered, and the legs closed progressively until the horse obeys. When the proper gait is assumed, the instructor will see that the men keep their horses up to it. Particular attention will be paid to the position of the cannoneers; they must hold the body erect and easy, the legs falling naturally, and hold the reins with a light hand. This will enable them to conform readily to the motions of the horse. The lengthened gait will only be maintained for one or two turns towards each hand in the riding-house. If a horse overreaches, the wrists must be more or less raised, and the legs closed, to correct it. To resume the trot, the instructor commands: SLOW-TROT. At this command, elevate the wrists by degrees until the horse obeys, closing the legs to prevent his taking the walk.

208. When the cannoneers have acquired some suppleness and confidence at the trot, and trot out, they take a few turns at the gallop. The mechanism of the gait is not at first explained, but each man accommodates himself to the motions of his horse without losing his seat. The rear rank, when on one of the short sides, is formed in line as prescribed in No. 180, and halted at 6 yards from the track; the front rank continues to march, taking distances of 3 yards between the horses, pass to the trot, and the cannoneers successively commence the gallop at the indication of the instructor as follows: On approaching the corner, trot out, feel slightly the left rein so as to keep back the left shoulder, and leave the right one free. At the moment of passing the corner, close the legs equally, but not suddenly; when the horse gallops, hold a light rein, and the legs closed sufficiently to keep him at the gait. After one or two turns, pass from the gallop to the trot, and walk; change hands in the breadth of the riding-house, and gallop to the left hand. The front rank is then formed in line on the other short side, and the rear rank carried through the same exercise.

At the command MARCH, open the right rein to incline the horse to the right, closing at the same time the left leg, that the haunches may follow without leaning the body to the left; make use of the left rein and right leg to support the horse and moderate his movements. At the command HALT, given after a few steps have been taken, gradually cease the effect of the right rein and left leg, employing the opposite rein and leg; straighten the horse, and replace the wrists and legs by degrees. To passage to the left and to halt, employ the same means. These movements are at first executed by the men separately, and then together. The cannoneer should hold his horse obliquely to the track to render his movement more easy; the horse having obeyed, the effect is kept up by gentle means, and the motions and positions of the horse are regulated upon the principles laid down.

210. The passage to the right or left in column is effected on the same principles. For this purpose a change of direction in the length of the riding-house is commenced, and when the columns are parallel to and opposite each other, they are halted and the passage ordered, so as to separate them until each is again on the track, when they march forward, and the movement is repeated, which causes each horse to passage in a direction opposite to the first one.

211. During the last days of instruction with the stirrups, the instructor, in order to prepare the cannoneers for the use of the curb bridle, will cause them, from time to time, to cross reins in the left hand, so that they will conduct the horses with this hand alone. He will see that each man sits squarely on his horse during such exercise.

213. The reins, with their slide, in the left hand; the little finger between the reins, the other fingers well closed; the thumb upon the second joint of the first finger; the elbow slightly detached from the body, the hand 4 inches above the pommel of the saddle, the fingers 6 inches from, and turned towards the body; the little finger a little nearer the body than the upper part of the wrist; the right hand at the side. To adjust the reins, the cannoneer seizes them with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, at the button or centre, partly opens the left hand so as to let them slide through it, elevates the reins until they bear equally, closes the left hand upon them, and lets fall the end of the reins and the right hand. To take the snaffle in the right hand, the instructor commands, snaffle in right hand; the cannoneer grasps the snaffle with the right hand, nails downward, holds the reins of the snaffle over those of the curb, and lowers the left hand so as not to bear upon the bit. In using alternately the curb and snaffle, the bars of the horse's mouth are relieved. Both should never be used at the same time. The cannoneers are required to take the snaffle in the right hand during the first exercises with the curb bridle, in order to keep up his right side, which is apt to remain in rear. At the command drop snaffle, the left hand is replaced, and the reins of the snaffle allowed to fall so that they will be under those of the curb, the right hand at the side.

214. By raising the hand slightly, and drawing it towards the body, the horse is gathered; by raising it still more, the gait is made slower; by increasing the effect of the hand, the horse is stopped; if increased still more, the horse is moved backwards. By lowering the hand, the horse is permitted to move forward; by carrying it forward, and to the right, the horse is turned to the right; by carrying it forward, and to the left, he is turned to the left. As soon as the horse obeys, the hand should be replaced. In all movements of the hand, the arm should act freely and without constraint to the body; and as the effect of the curb is more powerful than that of the snaffle, it should be used progressively, particularly in stopping and reining back.

215. To apply the foregoing principles, the instructor should first take the cannoneers through the EXERCISES AT A HALT, (Nos. 153 to 169,) and then through the MARCHINGS, (No. 174, etc.) He will not require the different movements to be executed simultaneously, but observe the manner in which each man employs his bridle hand. When sufficiently advanced in the different movements with the curb, he will cause them to march upon the track, first at a walk, then at a trot. The habitual fault with riders being to carry the left hand forward, and to throw back the right shoulder, the instructor is particular in requiring them to keep that hand above the pommel of the saddle, without deranging the position of the body.

The cannoneer then passes the reins of the snaffle between the forefinger and thumb of the left hand, nails under, and draws in the hand towards the body until the reins of the curb bridle cease to act upon the bit. To drop the snaffle: the instructor commands: DROP SNAFFLE. The cannoneer lets go the snaffle without inclining the body, retakes the position of the bridle hand, and adjusts the reins. The snaffle is not taken in the left hand until the men have acquired the habit of conducting their horses with the curb bridle. To passage to the right with the curb bridle, or with both reins in the left hand, bear the shoulders of the horse to the right by inclining the hand forward and to the right; close the left leg, that the haunches may follow; keep the right leg near, to sustain the horse. In order to cease the passage, straighten the horse; hold the right leg near, and replace the hand and leg by degrees. The passage to the left is executed according to the same principles.

217. A horse gallops on the right foot when the right fore169 and hind legs move in advance of those of the left; he gallops on the left foot when the left fore and hind legs are in advance. Hie gallops true when he gallops on the right foot in exercising or turning to the right, or on the left foot in exercising or turning to the left, and gallops false, if in exercising or turning to the right he gallops on the left foot, or conversely. A horse is disunited when he gallops with the near fore leg followed by the off hind leg, or the off fore leg followed by the near hind leg. When the horse gallops on the left foot, the rider experiences a sensible movement in his position from left to right. When he gallops on the right foot, the movement of the rider is from right to left. When the horse is disunited, the rider experiences in his position irregular movements; the centre of gravity of the horse is deranged, and his strength impaired.

At the command Gallop, gather the horse, keep him perfectly straight, and at the command MARCH, carry the hand slightly forward, and to the left, to enable the right shoulder to move in advance of the left, and close the legs behind the girth, in order to urge the horse forward, causing him to feel lightly the effect of the left leg. The horse having obeyed, hold a light hand, and the legs near, to keep him at his gait. The men must conduct their horses steadily and quietly, and keep a light hand, that the gallop may be free and regular. At first they will take the reins of the snaffle in the right hand, to calm their horses; afterwards they will gallop with the curb bridle alone.

To keep the horse true, the rider should accommodate himself to all his motions, particularly in passing the corners. When the horse gallops false, or is disunited, the cannoneer is ordered to take the trot and pass to the rear of the column, taking care not to interfere with those who follow. When he arrives at the rear, he resumes the gallop, and the instructor explains again the manner of keeping the horse true. Only one or two turns will be made at a time at the gallop to each hand, and the cannoneers pass to the trot in order to change hand. When the horses become quiet and readily managed, the distance between them is reduced gradually to 4 feet. The rear rank is carried through the same exercises, and then both ranks at the same time.

219. When the cannoneers have been sufficiently exercised at the gallop on straight lines, the instructor causes them to take a few turns on the circle, following the principles already prescribed for exercises in the circle. The exercise will commence on very large circles, which will be progressively diminished as the cannoneers acquire skill in the management of their horses.

220. During the last few days of instruction in the foregoing exercises, the men will repeat the movements, wearing their sabres sheathed, in order that both they and the horses may become accustomed to them. The first movements with the sabre worn, will be at a slow gait, which will not be increased until the horses become perfectly calm.

221. The cannoneers marching by flank as in No. 190, the instructor halts the front rank, and when the rear rank is disengaged, forms it to the left in line as directed in No. 200, after which the front rank is formed on its left in the same manner. The instructor then commands:

At the command Draw, incline slightly the head to the left; carry the right hand above the reins, engage the wrist in the sword knot, seize the gripe; draw the blade 6 inches from the scabbard, and turn the head to the front. At the command SABRE, draw quickly the sabre, raising the arm to its full length; hold the sabre in this position an instant, then carry it to the right shoulder, the back of the blade supported against the hollow of the shoulder, the wrist upon the top of the thigh, the little finger outside the gripe.

225. At the command Return, present the sabre. At the command SABRE, carry the wrist opposite to and 6 inches from the left shoulder; lower the blade along the left arm, the point to the rear; incline the head slightly to the left, and fix the eyes.upon the mouth of the scabbard; return the blade, disengage the wrist from the sword knot, turn the head to the front, and adjust the reins.

226. The cannoneers will be required to draw, and return sabre whilst marching at a walk in column, the instructor taking care that neither the seat, nor the position of the bridle hand is deranged, that the right shoulder is not thrown back when the sabre is drawn, and that the horse is kept steadily at his gait. As they become more skilful, the sabre is drawn first at a trot, then at the gallop. In returning the sabre at a walk, the back of the blade rests against the left arm, until its point has entered the scabbard. The turns to the right and left with the sabre drawn, are executed at a trot and a gallop; the reverses, at a trot only.

227. The cannoneers marching at a walk in two columns, the instructor causes one of them to halt until the other closes up. He then causes the cannoneers to take the distance of 2 yards from each other, and when they are upon a long side of the riding-house, commands:

He causes them then to execute the sabre exercise, as taught on foot. For the exercise at a halt, the instructor employs only the time necessary to make the cannoneers comprehend the details. They then execute progressively, at the different gaits, the exercise of the sabre, taking care to preserve between each other the distance of 2 yards.

228. For this exercise the width of the ditch should be from 3 to 5 feet, and the height of the bar from 1 to 3 feet. The width and height of each should at first be the minimum; they are increased as the men and horses become more habituated to leaping. The instructor forms the cannoneers in one rank, 30 yards in rear of the obstacle. At the warning of the instructor, each man moves off at a walk, directs his march towards the obstacle, and at a third of the way commences the trot.

230. On arriving near the bar, rein up the horse slightly, and close the legs. At the moment of making the leap, give the hand, and elevate it slightly as soon as he reaches the ground on the other side. The cannoneer, in leaping, should cling to the horse with the thighs and calves of the legs, taking care to lean a little forward as' the horse is in the act of springing, and to seat himself well, by leaning to the rear at the moment the horse reaches the ground. Each man, after having made the leap, continues to move at the trot, and takes his place in the rank which is formed 30 yards beyond the obstacle, taking care to pass to the walk just before halting. During the first days of this exercise, the cannoneers leap without arms, the instructor causing them to take the snaffle in the right hand. Afterwards they repeat the same exercise with arms, and finally with the sabre drawn. Horses should not be made to leap more than two or three times in any one day.

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Plate 19.	Plate 20.	Plate 21.