Nose-to-Nose Training

One of our challenges as a part-time unit is that during the cavalry riding school it is hard on us and our horses to try and train new troopers and prepare for our cavalry riding demonstration at the same time. This year we decided to solve the problem by combining the two. We realized that the later stages of the riding school cover the same things we have to practice for our riding demonstration anyway. We are also training two new horses for the cavalry so we are adding them to the mix and getting three training tasks done at once. It turns out that it is working very well and it is easier on everyone, including the horses. Last Tuesday we had the students ride the two new horses. The idea was that if the students rode horses that didn't already know the routine that it would force them to really control the horses. The idea seemed to work pretty well. I had experienced troopers ride at the front of the column so the students had only to follow them and get their horses to comply. One of the maneuvers we practiced was one we call the "nose-to-nose" maneuver in which two different single files of riders gallop toward each other than turn into the center of the arena at the last second to form a column of twos. It is pretty impressive to watch if done correctly. Of course, some of the horses don't like it and will try to turn early. Others, however, will continue on and actually collide with the other horse, so you really have to know your horse. Since we had two experienced riders at the front of the two files riding their primary horses, I was not worried that there would be a problem. As the photo below shows, my confidence was misplaced. Fortunately, neither the horses or the riders were injured...although some pride may have been damaged during the making of this photo.


Photo by Ty Holland