Care of saddlery.
(Cav. Drill Reg. 1916.)
975. The saddlery and equipment must always be cleaned after use. This duty, like the care of the horse, is to be regarded as part of the mounted duty itself; thus a drill is not over until horse, saddlery, arms, and equipments have been put again in condition. According to need, the leather is simply wiped off with a damp sponge or fully taken apart and well soaped and cleaned. In no case must it be soaked in water.
If the soap used does not contain a sufficient amount of free oil the leather must be oiled to keep it pliable. A mixture of one-half neat's-foot oil and one-half mutton tallow, well rubbed in, keeps leather in good condition. Special care is taken to keep the underside of the skirts of the saddle and the parts which do not come in contact with the clothing well oiled. The seat and outside of the skirts will rarely require oil.
Metal parts are kept clean and free from rust; they may require oiling if not regularly used.
The saddle blanket must be kept clean and soft and free from wrinkles. After use it must be dried and then well shaken (unfolded). It must never be folded wet and left thus with the saddle. Provision will be made in the saddle room or stables for hanging it up to dry.
When necessary the blanket should be thoroughly cleansed by repeated immersions in tepid soapsuds and hung over a pole or line to dry without wringing or pressing it.
Section 6. The surplus kit.
- The surplus kit for each man consists of—
- 1 breeches, pair.
- 1 drawers, pair.
- 1 shirt, olive drab.
- 1 shoes, russet-leather, pair.
- 2 stockings, pair.
- 1 undershirt.
- 1 shoe laces, extra, pair.
Each surplus kit bag contains 1 jointed cleaning rod and case.
Squad leaders are responsible that surplus kit bags are kept in order and fully packed in the field.[5] Men are allowed access to them for the purpose of making substitutions.