The author spends a lot of time describing the state of affairs in Russia after the October revolution and abdication of Tsar Nicholas in 1917. I felt the following passage would appeal to horsemen of any age:

Richard Boleslavski tells the tale of his service in the Polish Lancers Regiment of cavalry during the first world war where he fought for the Russian Tsar. After Nicholas' abdication, he fought for the new Soviet state against the Austrians, and later served the "Whites," the monarchists who fought the "Red" communists in the civil war which enveloped Russia after 1917.

"One afternoon the Colonel and a few other officers went for a ride. The fields about us, cold and stiff in winter, were covered with clover in the summer-time. It was a rich hay county. In one of these rolling snow-white fields we saw two enormous hay-stacks, big as three-story buildings, and turned and rode across to them. The Colonel took a handful of hay, smelled it, rubbed it in his hands and even chewed a stalk or two.

There under the brilliant sun, he gave us a short lecture on hay and horses. There had been a war, a revolution and days of hunger, yet this incident stays golden clear in my mind. There we sat on our strong horses, five of us, young and healthy, and listened. The Colonel talked to us in an even mellow voice, which blended itself with the warmth of the sun and the grayish-green color of the hay-stacks. With his gloved hand he would now and then stroke his mustache, or play with the reins. His large, kind, brown eyes with little bags under them, like the eyes of a bulldog, wandered from one face to another, and with our young adoration we each tried to hold them as long as we could. But with his usual justice, the Colonel distributed evenly among us the favor of his attention. Nobody felt that he was forgotten - and that hidden sensitiveness of the Colonel made us love him even more than we did before. We admired his knowledge, we were moved by his love of his subject, and we laughed at his gentle humor. He told us how important it is to give horses the correct mixture. He compared timothy to meat in human diet, and clover to vegetables. The long fat grass of low countries and of lands flooded in the spring he compared to sweets, and he warned us not to give much of this to any mount.

'You don't feed people too much on sweets. And horses, gentlemen, are like children. The will always eat first that thick fat grass grown on rich flooded soil. But it's not good for them. If the horse works hard, give her more meat - that means more timothy and oats. If the horse rests, give her more clover, which means more vegetables. But not too much or the horse is apt to get cramps and gases. When it's cold give her corn. When it's hot spare her and don't be too lazy to dismount and wet her between the ears. She will reward you by serving faithfully. Love your horses, gentlemen, and they will reciprocate by sharing with you the numerous senses which they possess and use, which human beings do not have. Even if you are lost in a blizzard, let your reins loose; the horse will bring you to the nearest stable. While she is doing it she will give you her own inner warmth to prevent you from freezing.

'When you are suddenly afraid - even if you hide it as a good lancer should, the horse will sense the microscopic faint odor of your fear - and use all her means either to agree with you and to save you from danger, or to snort at your foolishness and to calm you down by starting to nibble the grass around.

'The infantry says: 'It is the horse that carries those brave cavalry men to attack.' Yes, it is the horse, but only when the horse has grasped your will and your desire to advance to victory. Horses, high-blooded or common, are naturally born ladies and gentlemen, my boys, and you should never forget it. In speaking to them never omit the word 'Please.' I don't know a horse which ever resisted the word 'Please.' I can't say that about human beings.