Civil War horsemanship training

[AzTrooper]

Howdy all,
I recently bought 3 VHS tapes that are available thru Ft. Reilly, Horsemanship 1,2 and 3. The are military films that I assume were for made for training new troopers prior to climbing into the saddle. The troopers and equipment are post WW1 as the uniforms show and the saddles are 1928 modified McClellans.
My question is, if any of You have seen this series of tapes.....was the Civil War trooper trained to hold his arms and basicly use the the same body positioning as is demonstrated in these films? They are pretty neat films covering everything from the basic parts of the saddle and how to fold the blanket to how to achieve proper balence and technique by developing a good seat. They are using 1928 modified McClellans and it is really great to watch these tapes even tho they are from a different era. I have learned a lot from watching practicing the techniques shown in these tapes. They dont go into great detail on some things but the do stress proper body positioning and for instance they spend quite a bit of time showing how to know if Your mount is on the proper lead and how to get it on the correct lead. I pretty much imagine that not everything shown in these tapes can be applied to the Civil War trooper, but I think that a lot can be learned by watching them if You have the chance to.
Regards, John Rogers

[RedCordCO]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

I can't see where basic equitation would have changed so drastically where what you were seeing those tapes would NOT have been pertinent to the cavalry of the Civil War. Unlike other branches, it has always been my contention that the cavalry changed relatively little compared to the infantry and artillery through, say, World War 1 and the pre-WW2 years.
I once had the fourth tape in the series and that showed a year in the life of a cavalry post. That was very interesting too.

I think the Army, up until they mechanized the cavalry, stuck with basic training and equitation that changed relatively little since CW times. Then again, ask your mount to wear the gas-warfare getup and watch the poor critter go nuts! One headache the CW troopers didn't have to worry about.

Rob Burchardt

Howdy all,
I recently bought 3 VHS tapes that are available thru Ft. Reilly, Horsemanship 1,2 and 3. The are military films that I assume were for made for training new troopers prior to climbing into the saddle. The troopers and equipment are post WW1 as the uniforms show and the saddles are 1928 modified McClellans.
My question is, if any of You have seen this series of tapes.....was the Civil War trooper trained to hold his arms and basicly use the the same body positioning as is demonstrated in these films? They are pretty neat films covering everything from the basic parts of the saddle and how to fold the blanket to how to achieve proper balence and technique by developing a good seat. They are using 1928 modified McClellans and it is really great to watch these tapes even tho they are from a different era. I have learned a lot from watching practicing the techniques shown in these tapes. They dont go into great detail on some things but the do stress proper body positioning and for instance they spend quite a bit of time showing how to know if Your mount is on the proper lead and how to get it on the correct lead. I pretty much imagine that not everything shown in these tapes can be applied to the Civil War trooper, but I think that a lot can be learned by watching them if You have the chance to.
Regards, John Rogers

[GeraldTodd]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

The difference in training a cavalryman between the CW and the 30's was that they actually trained cavalrymen between the CW and the 30's.

CW training was really more like 'show you once and drill you to death.' You took the field whether you got it or not. Many are the accounts of men that could not ride being plopped on horses never ridden with the expected results.

Cavalry was not wanted at the war's start, after Bull Run they couldn't get it fast enough, and then they couldn't arm what they got. There wasn't time to properly train, and I don't think there was anything in place that resembled proper training - if there was it wasn't adaquet to handle the volume of troops that needed it.

[CJSchumacher]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

Regarding horsemanship, as it relates to equitation, ie. your hands, seat, legs, etc...there were big differences between the CW and Pre-WWII. During the mid-19th century, a more classic style of riding was practiced in the military and the seat involved a much longer leg and "deeper" seat. Just look to any cav maunual of the period (Poinsetts, Cookes, etc.) or even a specific manual in regards to horsemanship, ie. Nolan's and you'll see a clear difference between the seat and legs. Look to the plates for "position of the trooper, mounted."

By the 1930's, cavalry was trained in a more modern, forward seat. They also shortened the stirrups to bring the seat forward. This differs from the classic style and is much closer to more modern/english riding. (not dressage, as this involves a much longer leg and deeper seat - more classic)

Jumping, however, was discussed on a previous thread with clear difference on how this was taugh in the classic vs. modern seat.

I'm a firm believer that in order to be a good cavalryman, you need to be a better horseman. Many don't subscribe to this theory, but the tapes you own, regardless of time period will be an invaluable source of information. Many things involving horses have not and will never change.

[courier]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

John,
Can you give the specifics on where you obtained the tapes.i went to the website and could not find any place to purchase them.
Regards,Rick Harris

[AzTrooper]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

Rick,
I bought the tapes at a place in Tucson called the Museum of the Horse Soldier, it is owned by a sculptor named Dan Bates and it is a great place . Dan has been collecting cavalry equipment for years to aid in making his sculptures more accurate. After a while he saw all the equipment that he had collected(most of which is origional)and he decided to build a museum at his busness so the public can have a chance to see it instead of it collecting dust. He even has a origional equine gas mask.the items on display are from the Civil War on up.The link for the Museum can be found on this website. I would imagine that since they are for sale in the museum, that the tapes would be available mail. If not let Me know and I will find a way so that You can buy them , they are great to watch. Here is the address for the Arizona Horse Guards, the link for the museum is on their page. http://azgovernorshorseguards.homest...azghghome.html
I hope that this helps,if they need to be purchased in person I would be more than happy to to help out.
Sincerely, John Rogers
Can you give the specifics on where you obtained the tapes.i went to the website and could not find any place to purchase them.
Regards,Rick Harris[/QUOTE]

[GBaylor]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

Chris,

I have to disagree, slightly, with your estimation of the value of these tapes. Having watched them, myself, I did glean some knowledge on basic horsemanship that transcends the period between 1860 and 1940. The folding of the blanket, the emphasis on the seat and legs rather than the reins, and adjustment of the saddle and bridle are all applicable to all cavalry. The basic tenants: such as the shoulders aligned with with the hips, aligned with the heals is similar to that of the period. Additionally, the length of the leg is also addressed; whereas, the leg should be extended to the extent that the heal is lower that the toe. These vidoes teach the basic fundimentals of military horsemanship and should be the primers for all of those who wish to portray the mounted arm. Granted, there are aspects that don't apply to Civil War era cavalry, but there are those who could benefit greatly from veiwing these tapes.

There are those among us mounted types who emphasize the impression first and the equestrian second. I think that we have to embrace both simultaniously to more accurately portray the mounted arm.

John Sweeney

[Charles Heath]

Re: Civil War horsemanship training

John of Arizona,

Would these the same tapes (also available on DVD) as offered from Vintage Video? Here's a link to their catalog:

http://www.vintagevideostore.com/Mer...egory_Code=CAV

Without having the training tapes in front of me, I seem to recall they were circa 1942 for the most part, and the Horsemastership film had a good segment about the timeless art of field sanitation by reminding people to drink upstream from where you, well, you get the picture. While completely off topic for Civil War, there's a good inventory of WW2 films in their offerings for vehicle buffs. We take for granted "someone" out there is preserving film media, but here's a good example of a group that is making sure these pieces of film history don't mold in a vault somewhere.

Charles Heath