Photos, National Cavalry Competitions

[Guilherme]

As promised a week or so ago, here is a Picasa album with photos from National Cavalry Competitions (NCC) from 2006-2008.

http://picasaweb.google.com/wkambic/NationalCavalryCompetitions#5259408550945134050

Let me know if the link doesn't work. :)

G.

[Griffyn]

Neat pictures. Makes me want to know more.

[Guilherme]

It was a good time. If you want more information go to http://www.uscavalry.org/

You can also PM me and I'll provide such info as I can.

G.

[texang73]

My first thought was "How very interesting"... as the ex-spouse of a military man who flew Apache helicopters in the 7/6 Cavalry... I have always found it interesting how the military still calls such a formation a cavalry even though there are no horses involved anymore!

How does one become in involved in such events? I am assuming it is for current and retired military?

[Romany]

Looks like fun: is it US only, or US and Canada?

Years ago, in Calgary, they were looking for riders who had military connections, and I called....and was told, sorry, no women. Which I thought was crazy, shooting themselves in the foot, etc, etc; plus - in Canada - illegal.

Their loss. ;)

[Guilherme]

You don't need to be a vet or retiree (or Active or Reserve). If you are not then you do need to pick a time in history (even very recent history like action in Afghanistan) and appear with appropriate uniform, tack, and weapons of the period. You would also be expected to learn the military courtesies of the period and comply with them (such things as removing your hat, if you are male, while greeting a lady).

The only period not permitted would be Nazi Germany.

The best way is affiliate with a re-enactor or living history unit that represents a period you are interested in. That's not the only way, but is the quickest and easiest.

About a year ago a big Civil War re-enactor's symposium was planned in the Big South Fork area. It was advertised to be "by re-enactors, for re-enactors." To ensure historical accuracy a "no female" policy was established. It got cancelled with nobody signed up. The various units, many of which have female troopers (even though this is historically inaccurate) said, "we're not cutting out our female members."

I guess you can carry historical accuracy too far. ;)

The activity is fun, but there is a serious belief that in doing this we honor the memoriy and sacrifices of men (and a few women) who served the nation as horse soldiers. While I'm Navy (and thus not really part of that tradition) I figure I can be respectful of those traditions and have a good time to boot.

The event next year will be at Ft. Robinson, NE on 17-19 Sep 2009. The U.S. Cavalry Association website has a listing of re-enactor units and other resources for those intersted.

G.

[dab]

Check out the military horsemanship tests -- They're ridden in a dressage arena, but you enter the arena on foot and have to mount at X -- Do you think the judge would mark me down if I brought a mounting block in with me? ;)
http://www.uscavalry.org/currentevents/2008/2008_NCC_horsemanship_tests.pdf --

[Guilherme]

Check out the military horsemanship tests -- They're ridden in a dressage arena, but you enter the arena on foot and have to mount at X -- Do you think the judge would mark me down if I brought a mounting block in with me? ;)
http://www.uscavalry.org/currentevents/2008/2008_NCC_horsemanship_tests.pdf --

There are a few of us Oscar Foxtrots that use a mouting block. It does cost a few points on the score. This year it cost me third place in Level I Military Horsemanship. :(

But, while I can get on from the ground, it's neither pretty nor particularly comfortable for either me or the horse. So I eat the point loss and try to get it back during the test.

I suggest that you look at the Suttler's Store on the USCA website and look for the "Horsemanship & Horsemastership, Vol. 1: Education of Horse & Rider." This was the primary text for Cavalry School at Ft. Riley. Also, there are three DVDs available under the "DVDs & Music" category, DVD Section. They are were designed to accompany the text book and cover "Saddling and Riding"; "Aids and Gaits"; and "Suppling Exercises." For less than $100 you can get some of the best instructional basis available.

You should also consider joining the Association. That will get you the newsletter and on the list for information on events.

There will be a Western Regional Cavalry Competition in Wickenburg, AZ on 24-25 April 2009. Go to http://www.equinesafety.net/ for further information. These folks are the local contacts and organizers.

Last, and far from least, there is a growing interest in "tent pegging." This is a very popular activity in Australia and some of the Commonwealth countries. It's a version of the "skill at arms" testing that used to be common in British cavalry regiments. IIRC you see a scene depicting this activity in The Man From Snowy River. I'm not sure how accurate the depiction is.

These events make a nice break from the "going round in endless circles" of standard showing. You quickly find out that riding one-handed (because you've got a pistol, saber, or lance in the other) will give you a much better idea of just how good your balance is (or isn't). Nothing is so challenging that it can't be done with some intelligent instruction and practice.

G.

[Ashby]

The couple who dominate in these photos are doing a nice job. Cute Lipizzans they have, too.

Fascinating competition. It would be good for more reenactors to take part in things like this. Too many of them have a certain lack of subtlety in their horsemanship. This competition seems to really encourage the traditional skills of cavalrymen.

Some of the jumping shots (not of the Navy couple who won, but others) are a little hair-raising as to safe form over fences! This answers the initial question I had about why more natural fences, of the type a cav officer might legitimately expect to encounter in the field, were not used. One would want them to fall down.

As to the issue of female cavalry reenactors:

Most reenactors try extremely hard to present an authentic experience. The general public seldom realizes how very hard reenactors try to create the illusion of reality for themselves and for the spectators, obsessing over the tiniest details of fabric, buckles, braid, grooming of self and horse, and making many sacrifices of time, energy, and money to improve their authenticity. It's darned aggravating when a reenactor goes to this trouble and then one yahoo joins the unit and wrecks the appearance of the unit for everyone. On a number of occasions, some stubborn and selfish women have been the culprits. With big flopping boobs, cigarette smoking, long hair the real cavalry would never have tolerated, makeup, nail polish, and other anachronisms, they presented a very disappointing appearance. Then there was a lot of whining and pouting or threats of lawsuits when they were asked to comply. They have somewhat spoiled things for other women who would like to do authentic cavalry reenacting.

On the other hand, some women cavalry reenactors are excellent. I have a friend who is middle-aged, a young grandmother, very beautiful and with a great figure, but she makes a superb impression as a cavalryman. Looking at photos of a group of cavalry officers, you cannot reliably tell who is the woman in the group. When riding she keeps her feminine thighs covered with the skirt of a frock coat and no one knows. Certainly no unit objects to this lady reenacting with them; they are honored. Her horsemanship is wonderful.

[Guilherme]

Actually, they're not Lippizans, they're Mangalarga Machadors. But I don't take offense as they're pretty rare and I like most of the Iberian breeds. :cool:

Our judging staff really does try to reward performance, not authenticity (there is an Authenticity Competition where contestants are judged on how closely they protray a character). Many re-enactors ride in Civil War bits and they are NOT really all that suitable for horsemanship and jumping. They were used because during the ACW the Union Army had large numbers of green horses and green riders and that bit was an essential element of control.

It was a question of operational effectiveness, not "horsemanship." During this period recruits came to a regiment with little more than a uniform and some vague knowledge that a horse bit from the front and kicked from the back. Whatever additional training they got came from the regiment to which they were assigned. Some commanders, like Custer or MacKenzie, emphasized training and had people assigned to the task. Others did not (and used a more Darwinian approach).

There has been some controversy over this at the event. I think as time goes on the competitors will find that the Civil War bit hampers their ability to engage in fine control over the horse (and costs them points and lowers their standing). This will drive some correction. They will either add a bradoon or shift to some other bit for parts of the competition.

I agree with your assessment that many female re-enactors do try very hard to "fit in" to give a professional presentation (even though their presence is not so very "authentic"). There were a few cases during the ACW of women serving in the ranks by trying to pass as males. Most got caught and were promptly removed.

Truth be told, at the event in Cheyenne I did OK in Military Horsemanship and Mounted Pistol. I gave a clinic on how NOT to take a jump and ended up in the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center overnight. I basically made every mistake a rider can make and ended up coming off, hitting the ground butt, back, and head (got my bell rung pretty good). I was wearing a helmet and it did its job. My most serious injury was to my pride (there were about 250 people watching me screw up :cry:).

I also missed one of the best parties. :cry::(:cry:

We hope to enlarge our National competition base through the Regional events. We realize that this type of competition is not for everyone, but those with an interst should attend one, or maybe find and work with a re-enactor unit, and see if they like what they see.

G.

[Roan]

Actually, they're not Lippizans, they're Mangalarga Machadors. But I don't take offense as they're pretty rare and I like most of the Iberian breeds. :cool: . . .

Nod, they don't look like Lipizzaners at all, but I can see where people would confuse them. There are/were a few Lips at Ft. Riley, though -- are there any left?

Eileen

[Guilherme]

Bump to the top.

[mayhew]

That's really interesting, Guilherme. I'm getting into War of 1812 re-enacting, but unfortunately, there are very few mounted units in this area.

[Guilherme]

That's really interesting, Guilherme. I'm getting into War of 1812 re-enacting, but unfortunately, there are very few mounted units in this area.

Very interesting. I've got a book entitled, IIRC, "1812: The Forgotten War." It's a good history of the conflict.

I also found this http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH/AMH-06.htm which gives a pretty good "thumbnail" sketch of the conflict.

At page 141 I found this:

In early 1814 Congress increased the Army to 45 infantry regiments, 4 regiments of riflemen, 3 of artillery, 2 of light dragoons, and 1 of light artillery. The number of general officers was fixed at 6 major generals and 16 brigadier generals in addition to the generals created by brevet. Secretary of War Armstrong promoted Jacob Brown, who had been commissioned a brigadier general in the Regular Army after his heroic defense of Sackett's Harbor, to the rank of major general and placed him in command of the Niagara-Lake Ontario theater. He also promoted the youthful George Izard to major general and gave him command of the Lake Champlain frontier. He appointed six new brigadier generals from the ablest, but not necessarily most senior, colonels in the Regular Army, among them Winfield Scott, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Queenston Heights and who was now placed in command at Buffalo.

One opportunity to go "mounted" would be dragoon. Also, several militia units (notably Kentucky) provided significant numbers of mounted riflemen during the conflict. Officers and dispatch riders offer another chance for a mounted impression. Last, and far from least, artillery units were all horse drawn and offer yet another chance for mounted service.

If there are no mounted units in your area perhaps it would be worth looking up the history of one or more of the dragoon regiments and forming a new unit. This is a daunting task, but would prove an interesting project.

Good luck and if you do the mounted thing be sure to post some photos!

G.

[TouchMeKnot]

Guilherme,

Would you by any chance happen to be the famous "Flywheel" of the old runningwalk discussion list of the 90's? I believe he left the TWH world for the Mangalara Marchadors. Just wondering...

I enjoyed your pictures. I've never seen that type of competition.

[Tamara in TN]

Guilherme,

Would you by any chance happen to be the famous "Flywheel" of the old runningwalk discussion list of the 90's? I believe he left the TWH world for the Mangalara Marchadors. Just wondering...

I enjoyed your pictures. I've never seen that type of competition.

runningwalk....those were good good times....

best