Cav Questions from a former infantryman

[Old Cowboy]

Howdy!
I'm rejoining Civil War reenacting after an extended absence due to family issues and a relocation. Well, I'm heading back to my old stomping grounds in a few months (I'll be taking over my family's ranch...well, part of it, anyway), and will be back in position to go to events again. I'd done infantry (Federal, and was hardcore about it) for better than 13 years, but now am planning to incorporate mounted cavalry into my list of impressions (I also do Old West...and no, not those SASS farbs, thank you). I'd like to find some good sources for Federal cav uniforms and equipment, as well as information on good ways to train a horse to handle not just musketry, but also the sound of cannon fire. I've been to an event or two where a horse would go nuts at the first infantry volley, and a couple where the artillery would spook the animals. As my nic makes plain, I've been a cowboy (working variety) for some time, but gunfire training isn't a usual part of breaking a horse for ranch work, so, to be honest, I'm a bit in the dark about this issue.

If anyone can help me in this, I'd sure appreciate it. Thanks, and it's good to be (almost) back!:)


Shannon G. Lucky (yes, I'm a guy),
(currently) Tohatchi, NM and soon to be at the Broken Knee Ranch, Nebraska

[VaTrooper]

Re: Cav Questions from a former infantryman

The best person making Federal tack currently is Nick Duvall and he's not even offering saddles yet because the trees available suck. As far as breaking the horse I went the try and try again route but there are probably better ways. It worked though.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Cav Questions from a former infantryman

Shannon,


Welcome to the AC Cavalry Forum!. Regarding your questions on clothing and equipment- Many Sutlers and makers provide excellent equipment but there is no "one size fits all". Some make better this and some better that. It really depends on what you want. Your best bet is to get with an established "authentic" cavalry unit that can provide some clear guidance on these individual questions. Remember, opinions vary on individual pieces of equipment. So ultimately you have to satisfy yourself. Still, all of us have made the mistake of buying twice. Try to avoid that. Its expensive. Its better to pay a bit more once than to buy the same thing twice.
As to your horse training. Your a horseman- a cowboy. You know that "first' you need to start with a good quiet, broke horse. Not your nicest looking, highly bred, papered Quarter Horse (nobody cares)- just the best, broke horse you got. Then, simply take him to an event put him with experienced horses, get him tired and 90% of the time he'll adapt fine. You are a cowboy- you can ride so if you (and the other horses around him) don't worry about the gunfire and cannons- he won't either.
Second, ride him at home (a lot) and the more you haul him the better he will get. Like people, every horse has some kind of hole (personality quirk) in them somewhere but, a good horse is a good horse almost anywhere. Just don't try to fit a square peg into a round hole. If he is an idiot or spooky at home dont think he will calm down and be "OK" at an event. He will be worse.
I would suggest however, that you first use the search engine on these questions. Many of these topics have been covered before. The search engine here is a great tool and can often tell you everything you want to know (and more) with just a little bit of reading. Good Luck and keep posting! You are always welcome.


Ken R Knopp
Moderator

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Duvall Leatherwork]

Re: Cav Questions from a former infantryman

Shannon,

Check out my website, and if you don't see what your looking for just give me a call....I make just about anything and everything leather!

I hope to hear from you soon...

Nick Duvall
Duvall Leatherwork
314 Wyoming Ave
Kingston, PA 18704
(570)283-9297
duvall_leatherwork@hotmail.com
www.duvallleatherwork.com

[Tom Craig]

Re: Cav Questions from a former infantryman

Shannon,

Once you get settled back into Nebraska you should look up Dan Chmelar (sp?). He's over in Iowa, but as the world goes out there, that's just about as geographically close as you're going to get to authentic cav. Dan's got a small knot of guys who do it right.

In terms of the horse thing, there are about 3 ways to do it for every guy who ever trained a horse (or said they did) for reenacting. Ken's advice for starting with the best quietest horse you can get is certainly the most important piece of the puzzle. Most horses I've worked with either get it the first time, or they don't. Sure like Will said you can go with the try and try again route and it may sorta work, but it's always going to sorta work. Get the most dead broke level headed animal you can and introduce him to everything you can calmly and routinely and with other experienced horses around and you'll do fine!

An oh yeah, make plans to ride down with Dan to VA for next October's Unison event!!

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[IowaYank]

Re: Cav Questions from a former infantryman

Damn Tom, got my last name spelled right on the first try!!! :-)

Shannon, Like Tom said, over here in Eastern Iowa/SW Wisconsin we have a small mess group called the Horse Hair Mess. Most of the group only rides as Federal, but myself and several others also enjoy doing CS. If you are interested in a 100% immersion event, I am organizing an event in SW Wisconsin called "The Fight For Crampton's Gap", which will have both Federal and CS cavalry.

Also, like Tom said, if you interested in going to Unison next year, come on over and ride with us! Hopefully we will have at least one full trailor going out next year.

Dan