Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 edition. Excerpt: ... nose. MY EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE. Just out of the hospital, and about the most used-up man you ever saw. Been there three weeks from the effects of taking too much violent exercise in the riding-hall. Have had the most singular, and, at the same time, We all mounted in good style, and then the command "Cross stirrups! " was given. Before going any farther, I must explain a little. We had all understood that we were to ride simply with a blanket at first, but we found that our Riding-master was going to make us ride with saddles, and with crossed stirrups. That was something no "third class " had ever attempted before; and it is my opinion, soberly expressed, if you want a man's soul and body to part company, just place him on a hard trotting horse, with a "No. 3 McClellan saddle," with no stirrups, and set him going! If you find anything left of him when he stops--that is, if he does stop--it will be little less than a miracle. Well, we all mounted with the stirrups, and then, at the command, crossed our stirrups over the horses' necks, just in front of the pommels of the saddles, and started off. The brute (Reynolds) I was on, showed a decided inclination to stand on his ears, and on the tip end of his tail. He started off, however, at a walk quite respectably, but at the command 1-Trot! March! " " Oh! Then began the tempest to my soul!" (/ never fully realized the sense of that expression before.) To my intense disgust, my horse was determined to get to the head of the platoon, and accordingly started ofi' on one of the most terrific, hard, swift, long, sliff-legged trots that ever had fallen to my lot. The saddle must be described. It was one of the same kind I had used in the Volunteer Cavalry, but in size plenty large enough for a man...
