Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army / of the United States 1917. To be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training

by United States. War Department

(b) (Service saddle, model of 1912.) Troops equipped with this model will saddle as prescribed for the McClellan saddle with the following modifications;

Place the saddle on the blanket so that the front edge of the side bar approaches the shoulder blade without pressing upon it. After the saddle has been so placed, let down; the girth; pass to the off side, adjust the girth and saddle skirt, and see that the blanket is smooth, return to the near side and push the blanket well up into the pommel arch; reach under the horse, seize the girth with the left hand and bring up its free end to the near side of the saddle; with the right hand raise the saddle skirt and buckle the girth straps to the corresponding buckles of the girth, beginning with the forward strap, lower the saddle skirt and let down the stirrups, beginning with the right stirrup. The girth should ordinarily be about 4 inches in rear of the point of the elbow.

182. To approximate the length of the stirrup straps before mounting, they are adjusted so that the length of the stirrup strap, including the stirrup, is about 1 inch less than the length of the arm, fingers extended.

TO UNSADDLE.

183. The instructor commands: UNSADDLE.

(a) (McClellan saddle.) Stand on the near side of the horse; unbuckle and remove the surcingle; cross the left stirrup over the saddle; loosen the cincha strap and let down the cincha; pass to the off side, cross the right stirrup, then the cincha; pass to the near side, cross the cincha strap over the saddle; grasp the pommel with the left hand, the cantle with the right, and remove the saddle over the croup and place it in front or rear of the horse as may be directed, pommel to the front; grasp the blanket at the withers with the left hand and at the loin with the right, remove it in the direction of the croup, the edges falling together, wet side in, and place it on the saddle, folded edge on the pommel.

If in the stable, place the saddle on its peg when taken off the horse.

(b) (Service saddle, model of 1912.) Stand on the near side of the horse; cross the left stirrup over the saddle; raise the saddle skirt with the left hand, and with the right unbuckle the girth straps, beginning with the rear strap; let down the girth; pass to the off side; cross the right stirrup and then the girth over the saddle; pass to the near side, grasp the pommel with the left hand, the cantle with the right, and remove and dispose of the saddle as prescribed in (a).

The service saddle, model 1912, should be hung on a bracket, sufficiently wide for the saddle to rest on its side bars. If a narrower support is used, the saddle will rest on the low point; in the leather seat and become misshapen.

TO PUT ON AND TAKE OFF THE BIT AND BRIDOON BRIDLE (MODEL 1909).