Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1899 — The Cavalry Horse. [ARTICLE]

The Cavalry Horse.

A war horse is broken to be steady under fire by tying ropes to his legs. While the animal is down on the ground the ground the officer takes a pistol and fires it close to his ear. Then in rapid order he fires the weapon over his neck, between his legs, anywhere that an opening presents itself during the horse’s futile struggles. Not until he sinks back exhausted, all a-tremble, and showing the whites of his eyes, does the pistol practice cease. After two or three lessons of this kind it is considered safe to mount him with a bridle furnished with a curb bit. Up to this time the horse has never felt a curb. The light snaffle is still retained, and the curb bridle is only given a gentle pressure at first, just enough to let him know that it is there. Gradually the strength of the pull is Increased, and with this safeguard the horse is taught to stand fire from his rider’s pistol or carbine. In carbine practice the horse must be thoroughly broken, as both hands are required in using this weapon, whereas with the pistol the rider may retain the bridle with one hand. Then comes sabre practice, and that is another trial to the horse. Again is he thrown to the ground, and when the bright blade of the sabre, with quick thrusts, flashing before his eyes and cutting the air in proximity to his ears, appears to him, he is again terrorstricken.