Cavalry Operating on Horseback

This picture often makes the rounds online, Unfortunately, not a lot is known about it and the specific unit not identified. It is most likely that this picture was taken on the Western Front sometime from 1917 on. Note that the sword has been dispensed with (in 1915, an order issued by the high command directed that swords were not be carried anymore). Also, the soldiers' carbines are now being carried slung over their shoulders rather than on scabbards.

Even the Horses Were In Trenches...

I recently came across this picture- it's kind of interesting in that the horse is also in the trench, or more properly, a sort of a crude bunker. I'm not sure what to make of this but I thought it was interesting.

Portrait- Trooper & Horse, Dragoon Regiment No. 6

Here's an interesting cavalry picture of a soldat of Dragoon Regiment No. 6 at the  outbreak of the war. The one flower he has pinned on his tunic plus the fact that the regimental number is on his picklehaube cover points towards 1914.

The Cavalry Lives On at Boxberg...

The spirit of the Kaiserzeit Era cavalry still lives on today at Boxberg- for the past three years, the Deutsche Kavallerieverband e.V. has sponsored a cavalry competition at Boxberg drawing competitors from as far away as the United States. The competition consists of a series of individual and group events that test one's ability to function as cavalry. From the looks of the tests, they appear to be pretty rigorous and would definitely be a challenge to almost any rider. People represent a particular cavalry regiment and as you can see form the pictures below, it can be quite a mixed bag.

As you can see here, there's a mix of uniforms ranging from Prussian Dragoons, Kuirassiers, and Uhlans to Bavarian Uhlans. Unfortunately, there are no Chevaulegers.

Another group shot. There are definitely some modern modifications going on with the saddles and tack but oh well....

Lance Training (Die Lanze) - Lehrvideo des Deutschen Kavallerieverbands zu Lanzenuebungen

Recently, I came accross this instructional video on using the lance, reconstructed from period manuals. Although it's in German, I can still make out some of it and it's something that I would live to try one day. Enjoy!

On Horseback - Some Recreated Views

Since it has been a long time since I have gotten pictures of myself in uniform on horseback, I thought that I would do so. Please note that the saddle and tack are far from correct and that's an area that I'm still working on. Also, I could not get access to a lance so I had to do without. Enjoy!

A little goofing around. I tried to get Max to wear the Stahlhelm but he wouldn't go for it.

Casual riding with only a riding crop for "protection".

Campaign uniform

Taking aim with my Reichsrevolver

Armistice Day Redux

The First World War killed or maimed untold millions. It is estimated that almost as many horses were also killed or maimed during the conflict. Below is a picture that captures this.



British Draft Horse, 1916. His companion had just been killed by shrapnell.

Close Call...

Horses by biology are prey animals whose first reaction to anything potentially life-threatening is to run. Much of this can be mitigated by training and rider skill but there's always just a remnant of the horse's biology and even with the most extensive training, horses can and do react to stimuli. The key is to train the horse to be be able to recover from the negative stimulus. In the picture below, the horse is reacting to the explosion of a shell landing close by. Of course what we don't know is if the horse than ran away or remained in place (relatively).

From the looks of things, it appears that the rider is handling things but it can still be quite a scary experience since there's the potential that the horse could flip over, crushing the rider, or fall to the side and pinning the rider (and breaking bones). Either way, things are pretty dicey here.

Horse reacting to shell fire.