CHAPTER III.

EQUITATION AND DRIVING.

=25.= _Standard required of men and horses._

1. The efficiency of horse and field artillery depends so largely on the riding of the men and on the training and condition of the horses that the maintenance of a high standard of equitation must be the aim of the commander of every unit.

2. Horsemanship and horsemastership are as essential to success as good eyesight or a knowledge of gunnery. The development of a horse’s powers by means of a progressive course of physical training and by the adoption of uniform methods of control is as important as the training of a man to ride.

3. Horsemastership is a necessary qualification for all artillery commanders, and horse-training should also be studied to ensure a high standard of equitation in a unit. Every section commander should be capable of instructing his men in horsemastership. In addition to being good military horsemen and instructors in riding, all officers must be able to train and direct the training of remounts.

4. The qualifications of a good horseman from an artilleryman’s point of view, are as follows:--