Humm, I never thought of myself as authoring a book on Horses and Cavalry Tactics. However, I should put something together and just make it a file. And, perhaps ask for the US Army for some pictorial and written matterials in their archives as well as West Point Military Academy.
I hope they would still have copies from Phil Kearny and George McClellan.
The manual I paged through that Major Lynch had was from the World War I -General "Blackjack" Pershing's time. Really facinating stuff. How weight of each piece, e.g. canteen, rifle sleeve (keep the rifle from weighing on the soldier was fixed to the saddle to let the horse keep some weight off and the rifle from swinging and banging the barrel about); was as matched and balanced as possible. I'm sure if people carry a strap on their shoulder loaded with books and a lap top know the lack of balance throws the body off no matter if horse or human.
I certainly would want to have more of a DVD then a book. I think if live, and if I can get volunteers from cavalry re-enactors and find the techniques that can be revised into more humane ways of training the horses--I think it could really help everybody. What was tolerated for so many years would have someone in jail for inhumane treatment today.
The famous Lippizzaner horses of the "Spanish Riding School" and also featured in "The Miracle of the White Stallions" --are no bigger than a Morgan or Quarter Horse.
I would love to have the funds to bring the British training of the military horse and ceremonial horses. Her Magesty's Equery and Master of the Horse, are 'equestrian' masters for certain. Some have made by hand the tassles and decorations on ceremonial saddles, blankets and harnesses. Really amazing testiment to 'tradition.'
I first have to finish a pictorial album in memory of and dedicated to my father first. That is an emotional and person endeavor. I haven't authored anything in my life so-- I'm one of those who is just worried about making a mistake.
There is something at home anybody can do, to which can demonstrate how much the rider's body can influence the horse in behavior, such as turning in a direction.
Since there are few who can afford a horse, to appreciate the 'team' of rider and horse--especially the 'war horse,' I'll share some of my 'show and tell' [Smiles]
First, if you have a straight back chair that can have a two leashes wrapped on the top bar -- even leashes I hope, or you can use matching belts or laundary rope line. This sample insight won't work on chairs with wheels. Now, if you tie the rope or loop the leashes to the support portion of the chair near the top bar and evenly step back with very little tention in the hand and stand. If you pinch with thumb and forefinger (index finger) you should see the chair move on the side where you pinch.
It does not require strength as you see. The chair acting like a horse bit, you can see what a pinch can do. Now laying the rope, belt or such in your palm and just squeeze your hand shut. Some chairs on rugs may come back and tip and on wood/tile floors; the chair will slide back. A horse's mouth if sensitive will come to a halt from a full gallop. The horse might hop a bit until their hind end gets under them but--the horse will stop. If they are balanced, they will drive the hind end down and stop and or skid. This is exampled in Gods and Generals when Colonel JEB Stuart reports to Colonel Thomas Jackson [Pre Stonewall identity] The horse skidded to a halt.
Now, the other 'show and tell' through text -- is the upper body telegraphing direction without tampering with the reins by squeezing them.
If you have a spouse, friend, child and have them stand immediately in front of you. Place both of your hands on their shoulders, where it is between the shoulder and arm socket and the base of the neck. Now, ask the helper to just move their head level to the hard right. Or, if ex-military, eyes forward and then eyes right --you will feel the body move to the right slightly. This is all a horse needs to feel from you to start right. The same can be experimented to the left. Just head movement alone you can see the body turns that direction. The reins cannot help but be affected as well. So, no need to be noticable with the reins.
Neat isn't it?
The nature of the horse is never trying to loose it's balance and or to fall. The horse will do all it can from not stepping on mushy items that may cause them to slip. Being balanced and then having live humans, it upsets their balance so the horse will compensate. The horse will, depending on the style of training--will either move away from pressure, such as leg, spur and the tap of the whip. If the rider ***** their hip forward the horse's hind end engages and if cocked back, your balance changes and the horse slows or stops. The horse's vision is all but directly before him, between their eyes and directly behind their neck. So, they can see more than humans. They are considered prey--in the wild. Horse's ears are able to pick up sound, even in the distance. When your horse stops and ears *****ed-if you look in between the ears like gun sights--you'll problably see what the horse sees.
The best description I can make about riding a horse bareback without eyesight (as we were blindfolded at times as to get in tune with the movement of the horse) is like riding a bowl of jello. Front end moves opposite of the hindquarters at a walk and trot, at a canter (the gait named after the trip to Canterbury, in England) at a slow gallop. The horse picks one side or the other and then is not so 'jello' like but, like a rocking horse. At a gallop they lengthen themselves and go as flat as possible making it much smoother. This is why your trick riders on two horses-foot on each go around at a gallop--smoother. Smoother and bringing a carbine rifle to aiming--to fire was more accurate at either stand or gallop.
Horses do react to sound --so their head will flinch when putting a few rounds out from a gun from ontop of their back. If firing the soldier tried never to shoot between the horse's ears but..off to the side a bit. One modern bonus from military training was 'polo' After a while a horse gets use to the movement around their eyes and don't flinch. The Western riders in the Old West would call getting the flinches out of a horse 'Sacking out.' Hitting softly with a sack, motion all about their head and letting them feel it, fear was often replaced with an attitude like "another human thing." Police horses are trained these days by rolling things to bump their legs softly and ever increasing strength so when something does hit them--they aren't shocked by it all. The same with noise. Popping balloons after they smelled them, popping them at a distance and moving closer, this is replaced by ever increasing noise right up to pistol, rifle and shotgun. The same with artillery, according to Major Lynch. They left off blank charges--what the re-enactors would probably use for practice, then ever increasing strength.
Really is amazing what horses have had to put up with--us humans and all our noise.
Now see, that's just the sort of thing that can go in the book.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
Yeah. A look from the horses' perspective. (Hasn't that been done?)
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Mr. Wolf that was such an interesting post . I learned quite a bit about war horses. I have seen some of that done but never thought about a soldier's horse being down during a battle . Amazing .
Susan
Poinett Tactics is named after then Secretary of War, Joel R. Poinsett to whom sent Phil Kearney and two other officers to France to study what was then the 'best' military cavalry of that era, circa 1839. By time Kearney and others had taken courses, then served in the French Cavalry as to practice what they taught by 'the masters' of the art, then they returned back to the USA and then put themselves to work and transposing what they had in French and what they learned into plain American English. Not everybody had the luxury of going to Europe and learn from the 'old masters.' Remember, the United States wasn't that old. At the time of the Gettysburg Address the USA was only 87 years old. Other countries had a thousand years of history and evolution of warfare.
You are correct. There was a book published from the 'eyes' of Traveler, General Lee's horse.
However, much like Barney at the Bush White House--its just one horse's perspective -- not the many thousand of horses and those who were wounded and or forever maimed. The many thousand of horses starved, dropping from exhaustion and dying from the lack of food, rest, water and care. The many horses dying a slow death and the will to live thwarted by missing limbs and hurting themselves trying to move on with their fellow equines.
War hurts more than just people--it hurts animals also.
I don't remember where it was asked about riding a horse backwards however, I have found what I needed as to address that.
It was a European 'humiliation' and or 'punishment' mainly on men who allowed their 'wives' and or 'women' to beat them up.
The Charivari loosely translated French; facing the tail on an equine 'A-s-s.'
The Riding Skimmington aka Riding the Stang refers to the ladle used by women who skimmed cheese and it did provide a useful weapon. To ride, Skimmington/the Stang, required the man to face the tail of a donkey, A-s-s, or horse, with the addition to holding that animal's tail up. At this time, in the procession - Rough Music was to be played. I think the Camp Chase Fifes and Drums have that 'rough music' on their CD.
Since this was a practice from 1500 onwards towards the 1700's-- I am sure there were uses for such in the military for disciplinary reasons.
If anyone has seen the movie "Kingdom of Heaven" that came out a couple of years ago, you will see the King of Jerusalem, who went into battle and was captured by Sallahedeem (sp?), riding the donkey backwards in front of the walls of Jerusalem as a form of punishment, or as a statement to be made to the citizens before the impending battle. This movie takes place during the holy crusades and is based on a true story, but as far as Hollywood accurately interpreting history, (which most of the time they don't get it right) I would say this movie does a fairly good job of it, and so you can see what a ridicule it was to ride the donkey backwards.
It is a very good movie, I would recommend it. It is gruesome in its gory battle scenes, and gives just a hint of the Knights Templar and the fight for the Holy City.
Just a couple of thoughts to add to your post.
__________________ Well behaved women rarely make history.
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