The Training of Military Horses.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 April 1914, Page 2

The Training of Military Horses.

(BY "A RETIRED CAVALRY

OFFICER.)

A horse for cavalry purposes must, be well trained, and schooled in tumping. To be well trained he must move freely, carry his head well, and be under perfect control in all 'paces ;on this training depends largely the efficiency of cavalry. When so broken he will carry out the movement required with ease to himself, and comfort to the rider ; he will obey the bridle pleasantly, turn with ease to the indication of the rider's hand and leg, and do hard work, and look well on an ordinary allowance of forage. The badly-trained horse is disobedient, or stupid in the ranks, and in consequence sulky, this distresses him in fast work, unfits him for duty, and wears him out prematurely. At the Naval and Military Tournament, when a musical ride was working, one has heard expressions of approval, especially by ladies, such as "What lovely horses! How well they are trained ! They can work without the rider ! Why do they move sideways ?" MUSICAL RIDES. In the sixties, as a show to friends, rides of 16 men were first made a feature of cavalry regimental sports. The rides were worked by words of command ; soldiers disliked them, they considered it) "swank;" but as soldiering became more popular, and public displays more common, the opinion changed. They are now executed accompanied by the band without words of command, and designated " musical rides." For these rides the best-looking horses are selected, other points being equal, and the rides taught by repeating the'first group of movements, then adding others until the whole are memorised, the band attending the two final rehearsals. Breaking the cavalry horse is carried out as follows : —An animal, say four years old, after being stabled a short time, is brought into (lie ruling school by the soldier detailed to train him, and after lunging the horse round a circle, his temper, condition and conformation are noted by the riding master for classification ; a horse four [ years old is a better pupil than i one five or six years ; the latter class having been worked before purchase in civil life, are invariably found to have bad manners, hard mouths, and rarely become equal to those taken in hand by experienced trainers earlier. After lunging the horse, a folded blanket is placed on the back, a surcingle strapped round the body to hold 'it in position, and the next day a saddle may be put on as well as the blanket, and the horse led about so saddled for a day or so. In ninety cases out of a hundred, fear is the cause of restiveness; anything, therefore, is done to gain the animal's confidence—• speaking to him quietly, handling him kindly, giving a handful of corn if necessary. This system is carried out with timid and doubtful horses ; an odd horse may have to be thrown, but 80 per cent, may t>e saddled in the stable by the respective grooms without trouble. Slowly and carefully is the best way to make haste in this stage. The „animal is _n.ow mounted, one

man on foot, assisting the rider ; the majority of horses if taken ; j quietly will move with a walk and i a little patience and coaxing will go well. fie is then walked and trot- : ted for an hour or more a day, targht to rein back easily, and move sideways, which is distinguished as "passage," or "shoulder in," by the particular way the horse's head is turned and body curved diirin;:: the movement. This bending lesson is employed to teach the horse to obey j the rider's leg, and the bridle ; it ' makes him ready when in rank, to close in or out as directed, to place I his rider six or nine inches from the • next rider's knee. Reining hack ! enables, t.he rider to place his horse in line should he be too much to the front. Cantering is taught after the ani- , mill is confirmed in trotting, and is followed by the gallop. Leaping is taught after the animal running loose, in a confined space, over one or more hurdles, etc. Often three animals run together.; This lesson is given twice or thrice a week, commencing a week after saddling, and continued for two or three mouths, until the animal had had I good practice, and is strengthened in leaping without carrying the rider. The horse is accustomed to rifle firing, the sword, and lance during the latter portion of his training. A well-known trooper fit for all duties should be trained in four ' months. Cowboy methods "of throwing the animal, saddling, mounting, whipping, and galloping to a standstill, have a glamour of romance. They may suit special requirements, but a horse is not trained by being broken down. Such a system produces a number of wild, buck - jumping, useless animals, not horses a pleasure to ride, and obedient slaves, as may be found in British cavalry regiments, but invariably bottled-up demons.—"Weekly Telegraph."