iv. The weight must not be put on the loins, but upon

the ribs through the medium of the muscles covering them.

2. In fitting a saddle the bare tree should first be placed on the back, the front arch resting in the hollow behind the shoulder.

The arch and seat should be clear of the spine. This is not always possible with horses possessing high withers, but it is desirable in order to ascertain the fit of the side bars.

The front arch must be wide enough to admit the hand on either side of the withers, and its points must clear the ribs.

The side bars must not be too long and must bear evenly on the back, or as nearly so as possible. Care must be taken that their edges do not press the withers or ribs.

3. The numnah pannels should then be fitted on and the tree replaced on the back, but without a blanket.

The proper thickness of the blanket having been estimated, it is folded and placed on the horse’s back with the tree on it. The blanket must be pressed up well into the front arch, and before girthing up it should be noticed whether the burrs are off the shoulders and the fans off the loins; if they are not, the thickness of the blanket beneath the side bars must be increased by turning it up on either side.

4. The girths should now be pulled up and a man placed in the saddle. The first thing to ascertain is whether there is freedom from wither pressure. The hand must readily find admission beneath the blanket and over the top and along both sides of the withers. To make the test effective, the man should lean forward, and the examiner must not be satisfied with anything less than the introduction of his entire hand.

The next thing is to ascertain whether there is freedom for shoulder-blade bone pressure. This is done by passing the hand beneath the blanket to the play of the shoulder. It should be possible to advance the horse’s foreleg to its full extent without the examiner’s fingers being pinched between the blade-bone and side-bar, even if the man is leaning forward in the saddle. If the fingers are pinched the blade-bone will also be pinched, and the saddle must be raised by fitting thicker numnah pannels on the side bar or by an extra fold of blanket.

5. To ascertain whether the pressure of the side-bars is evenly distributed, the saddle, having been ridden in for about half an hour, is carefully ungirthed, and the tree lifted from the blanket without disturbing it. The blanket will be found to bear the imprint of the side-bars, and a glance will show whether they are pressing evenly from top to bottom and from front to rear.

The examination must be made without delay, as the elasticity of the blanket soon causes it to lose the impression of the side-bars.

If there is a deeper impression on one part of the blanket than elsewhere, the pressure is not evenly distributed, and a sore back is liable to result.

Irregularity in the fit of the side-bars may be remedied by the introduction of pieces of numnah to fill up the space between the side-bars and the blanket.

In peace these strips of felt can be fixed in position with glue, but in the field they may have to be tied on, or secured with tacks, or best of all, bound in position by means of a piece of leather (basil) which can be tacked to the edge of the side-bar or laced with string across the top.

By means of these strips of felt the most radical alterations in the fit of a side bar can be effected in a few minutes by a man who has no technical skill.

=30.= _Saddling._

1. The _saddle_ should be placed in the middle of the horse’s back; the front of it so much behind the withers as not to interfere with the play of the shoulder.

The fans should clear the back, and the front arch should clear the withers to the breadth of not less than 2 fingers when the rider is in the saddle. The saddle, to afford a suitable seat for the rider, should have a level bearing on the horse’s back.

2. The _blanket_ is not to rest on the horse’s withers, but should be slightly raised by placing the hand under it.

It can be folded in several ways. With a horse of normal shape and condition the following method is recommended:--The blanket is folded lengthways in three equal folds, one end is then turned over 24 inches, and the other turned into the pocket formed by the folds; the blanket thus folded is placed on the horse’s back with the thick part near the withers. Size when folded 2’ O“ × 1’ 8”, when unfolded 5’ 5“ × 4’ 8”. The folding of the blanket may be modified to suit special horses and to meet alterations in shape consequent upon falling way in condition, or from other causes. In the case of a horse which has fallen away in condition, and for certain shapes of back, a useful method is the “_channel fold_” The blanket is folded lengthways in three equal parts, each end is then turned over and folded towards the centre (two or three folds may be taken as required to suit the horse’s back), leaving a channel in the centre.

3. The _girth_ should be sufficiently tight to keep the saddle in its place and no tighter. In saddling a horse, the girth must be tightened gradually, and not with violence. It is recommended that the girths of all except young and growing horses should be fitted with the buckle in the second or third hole from the free end of the tab.

4. The _surcingle_ should lie flat over the girth, and be no tighter than the latter.

5. _Adjustment of the “=V=” attachment._--The =V= attachment, fitted to the saddle as issued, admits of limited adjustment to suit the conformation of the horse.

The front straps of the =V= attachment, Marks II and III, should not be buckled and unbuckled daily when girthing, nor utilised for shortening or lengthening the girth.

The normal position of the attachment is with the buckle in the centre hole of the three--6½ inches from the rivet--this position will suit a very large number of horses; the upper and lower holes are provided for the adjustment; additional holes are not to be punched.

On animals with straight shoulders that carry the saddle too far forward, the strap should be buckled in the lower hole.

On animals that have deep chests and sloping shoulders, and are thick in front of the saddle, the front strap should be worn long.

But in no case is it to be worn as a true =V=, _i.e._, the front and rear straps of equal length, which would depress the hinder part of the saddle, and cause other difficulties.

Care should be taken in all cases to buckle the “near” and “off” straps in corresponding holes.

=31.= _Bridling._

1. Care should be taken to fit each horse with a bit of the correct size. A narrow bit pinches the horse’s lips, and a wide bit moves from side to side and bruises them.

The bit should be fitted so that the mouthpiece is 1 inch above the lower tusk of a horse, and 2 inches above the corner tooth of a mare.

This can only be laid down as a general rule, as much depends on the shape and sensitiveness of the horse’s mouth and on his temper.

2. Figs. 1 and 2 represent bits, with and without a port, with a section of the horse’s tongue and lower jaw.

The tongue is less sensitive than the bars of the mouth. A straight mouthpiece, Fig. 1, rests on the tongue and bars of the mouth. When the reins are pulled the tongue is able to take the greater part of the pressure. A mouthpiece with a port, Fig. 2, rests chiefly on the bars. When the reins are pulled the tongue slips into the port and is unable to relieve the bars of the greater part of the pressure. A bit with a straight mouthpiece is therefore less severe than one with a port.

3. The _curb_ should be laid in the chin-groove and be so adjusted that when the bit is pulled back to its greatest extent the angle which the bit forms with the mouth should never exceed 45° even with the lightest-mouthed horse, and should vary between that and 30° according to the degree of hardness of the mouth. The curb should be fixed permanently on to the off curb-hook. The chain should be adjusted by twisting it to the right, putting the last link on to the near curb-hook, and then taking up as many more links as may be necessary. It should admit two fingers easily between it and the jawbone.

4. The _headstall_ should be parallel to and behind the cheek-bone.

5. The _noseband_ should be the breadth of two fingers below the cheek-bone and should admit two fingers between it and the nose.

6. The _throat lash_ should fit loosely, being only sufficiently tight to prevent the headstall slipping over the horse’s ears.

7. The _reins_ should be of such a length that when held by the middle, in the full of the left hand, with a light feeling of the horse’s mouth, they will touch the rider’s waist.

=32.= _Miscellaneous details._

1. The _head rope_ is put on as follows:--The point of the rope is passed through the lower ring of the jowl piece from the near to the off side, and then through its own ring. It is next passed over the horse’s neck from the off to the near side, and fastened off by doubling back the end, and laying the loop so formed on the standing end of the rope 6 inches from the ring. The free end is then wound round the three returns, passed through the loop, and the loop is hauled taut to it. The number of times the free end is wound round the returns will vary according to the length of the horse’s forehand.

_Special for mountain artillery ponies._--Buckle the strap at the end of the rope, buckle down, to the rear D of the head collar: pass the free end from off to near side over the animal’s neck, fasten off by doubling a piece of the rope long enough to make five complete turns, and lay this loop on the standing end of the rope 6 inches from the brass ring; the free end is now wound five times completely round the three returns, and passed down through the loop which is hauled taut to it. The bight of the rope is fastened off the front D on the saddle by a leather tie.

2. The _wallets_ (officers only) are to be placed on the pommel of the saddle with the hollowed side of the connecting piece to the front. The wallet strap is to be passed from the rear through the rearmost staple on the saddle, then through the rear keeper of the wallet, next through the front staple of the saddle, and finally through the front keeper of the wallet and buckled, the point of the strap pointing to the rear, the buckles being in line with the front edge of the wallet.

3. The _sword frog_ is attached to the rear arch of the saddle on the near side, the girth being passed through the steadying strap.

4. The _breast-piece_ should hang horizontally from the supporting straps, the bottom of it about 1 inch above the point of the shoulder, and should admit the breadth of the hand between it and the horse’s chest.

5. The _breastplate_ should be so fitted that the upper edge of the rosette or leather is the breadth of three fingers above the sharp breast bone, and it should admit the breadth of the hand between it and the flat of the shoulder.

6. The _martingale_ should be used only for exceptional horses. It may be either running or standing, according to which suits the horse the better.

It should be of such a length that it will not interfere with the horse until he gets his head above the proper position. If it is shorter than this it will tend to make him set his head and neck, and lean against it.

If a running martingale is used on reins other than those sewn to the bit or bridoon they should be fitted with “stops” to prevent the rings of the martingale getting caught by the buckles or studs, which fasten the reins to the bit or bridoon.

Running martingales should, as a rule, be put on the bit reins and sufficiently loose to have no bearing on the reins till the horse attempts to raise his head.

The standing martingale should, as a rule, be fastened to the noseband, but under exceptional circumstances it may be fastened to the bridoon or cheek of the portmouth bit.

RIDING.

=33.= _General instructions._

1. The instructions should be divided into three periods, and the pupil should be gradually advanced from one to the other.

The proper sequence of instruction is a matter of extreme importance, in order to obtain early and satisfactory results and to avoid spoiling horses.

2. The first period should be devoted to the attainment of a firm seat independent of the reins, and its natural consequence--suppleness of the body from the hips upwards. Individual instruction should be the rule during this period.

It is important to give the recruit confidence from the first, and to start with he should be given a quiet, well-trained horse. He should be allowed a saddle and stirrups for the first few days, after which some of his work each day should be without stirrups. The greater part of the instruction at this stage should be without reins. To save the horse’s mouth the pupil should only be allowed to hold his reins when he is riding with stirrups.

As soon as the recruit begins to be at home in the saddle and can rise in his stirrups, cantering and jumping should commence.

3. Before he enters the second period the recruit should be able to control his horse in straightforward movements and simple turns in the school or manège and be able to ride over low jumps at all paces without reins. From now onwards a considerable portion of the work should be outside the riding school.

This second period should be devoted to teaching what are commonly called the “_aids_,” _i.e._, the use of the hand and lower part of the leg and the distribution of the rider’s weight to indicate the rider’s will to his horse. (_See_ Sec. =43=.)

The instructor should aim at cultivating freedom and elasticity in the shoulders, arm, and wrists. Stiff shoulder-action cramps the play of the elbow-joints and wrists and makes good hands impossible.

The recruit should be instructed to keep the knee firm to the saddle when the lower part of the leg is used.

4. In the third period more advanced instruction in horsemanship is given. This should commence when the pupil has attained to suppleness of the body and the limbs, and consists in combining the play of both so that the rider may learn to move in unison with his horse.

Exaggerated movement of any sort must be discouraged, and the necessity of quietness and of sitting still emphasized. The best horsemen attain their ends with the minimum of exertion to themselves and to their horses.

During this period the horse artillery recruit should be taught to use his sword, and mounted men should receive instruction in riding with the rifle.

5. After the first few lessons the recruit’s horse should be constantly changed, and he should not be passed in riding until the average animal goes pleasantly with him at any pace.

Concurrently with his instruction in riding the recruit should be taught the principles of saddling and bitting, also the points of the horse and other elementary but useful knowledge connected with horses and stables.

6. By following out the methods described an average man, with careful individual instruction, should be able to ride at a trot and canter and over small jumps without reins after about 30 continuous lessons. He should be fit for dismissal in about 60 lessons.

=34.= _Hints to instructors._

1. It is necessary that an instructor should himself be a practical horseman.

2. Recruits should be carefully taught from the first how to put on and fit their saddles and bridles. The ill effects resulting from bad fitting saddlery should be explained to them.

Examples of horses badly saddled and bridled should be shown to the men, and they should be made to point out what is wrong, and how the mistake should be put right, _e.g._, if the front tab of the =V=-shaped girth attachment is not buckled tightly up, the saddle will slip forward. They should also be taught clearly how the bit acts on the bars of the mouth, and how it should be fitted.

3. An instructor should be mounted, and in addition to a short verbal description, should give a practical illustration of what he requires. A recruit who may have great difficulty in learning his work by mere verbal instruction will quickly do so by copying an expert horseman.

4. A feature of all instructional work should be its quietness; an instructor should never shout and must always keep his temper. He must endeavour from the first to create a spirit of emulation amongst his pupils, and avoid keeping the more forward amongst them back for the sake of the others.

5. An instructor should aim at making his lesson progressive, and as interesting as possible. In order to give recruits confidence, they may be allowed occasionally to amuse themselves in the riding school with their horses, by doing anything they like without interference from the instructor, beyond his taking care that the horses are not ill-treated.

When teaching men in the open they should be encouraged to ride about independently, so as to get into the habit of making their horses go where they like and do what they wish. As the men improve, the instructor should accustom them to riding under as varied conditions as possible.

6. The first portion of the early training can be pushed on much more quickly in a riding school than in the open. The horses are under better control, the nervousness natural to beginners and usually felt by recruits is greatly lessened, for they know that the horse cannot run away, and there is nothing to distract the attention of men or horses. The more advanced training must, however, always be carried out in the open, in order that the pupil may learn real control over his horse and improve his hands.

7. The first object of the instructor is to give his pupils confidence, to teach them balance, the knee and thigh grip, and to sit well down in the saddle. The lungeing whip should not be allowed inside the school, it does more harm than good, frightens the other horses and upsets the men; if necessary, the recruit should be allowed to carry a stick or whip. No riding school lesson should exceed one hour.

8. Falls should be avoided: they tend to spoil the beginner’s nerve and retard his progress. To this end the recruit’s stirrups should be connected in the initial stages by a strap passing under the horse’s belly, of such a length that the man’s knees are not drawn away from the saddle. The strap saves falls, because it prevents the rider’s legs from flying out far in any direction and the confidence it engenders enables him to acquire balance more quickly. It should not be used when jumping obstacles over 2 feet high.

9. More horses are spoilt from being “_jobbed_” in the mouth than from any other cause; particularly when jumping; hence the immense importance of teaching the men from the first to leave their horses’ heads alone except for the purpose of control and for applying particular aids.

Men may, with advantage, be taught to ride with their reins fully long.

10. An instructor should be careful not to keep horses reining back, passaging, or bending for more than a few minutes at a time. Generally speaking, half the length of the school is sufficient for one of these exercises.

11. In order to teach a man to have a strong seat, with the knee firmly in the saddle, and at the same time to keep his feet pressed down home in the stirrups with the leathers practically taut, he should frequently be practised in standing up in his stirrups. At first this should be done with the horse standing still, the man resting his hand on the horse’s neck, if necessary, to assist his balance. Afterwards at the walk, trot and canter.

=35.= _Preliminary training._

1. Before a recruit is allowed to mount a horse his riding muscles should, if possible, have been strengthened on a wooden horse, either under a riding instructor or under a gymnastic instructor who is a good horseman. At the same time he should be taught the correct seat. (_See_ Sec. =38= and Fig. 4.)

2. The following are good exercises:--

i. Rising from the knee with stirrups. ii. Rising from the knee without stirrups.