Forums at The Military Horse

One of the things I like about this photo is that it's one of the last times you see the chinstrap on the Army cap used for its original purpose. The "chinstrap" today is purely decorative and in fact isn't sturdy enough to be used this way.

Looking at the foot position of the troopers (something I have been working on lately) most have their toes pointed out, but look at the officer. His feet seem to be rolled to the inside, turning the sole of the boot outward. Interesting.

Jim

I had noticed that as well. At first, I was a bit ...

Does anyone know the usual price for a horse in those days? $90 seems like a lot, but I don't know much about the equine economics of the 1870s.

The Hompesch Hussars--Jaeger Regiment zu Pferd Des Herrn, 1794-1802 by Michael Robinson, Military Collector and Historian, Vol. 64, No1, Spring 2012

I had no idea that non British units even served in the British Army in this period...

Bear in mind that George III of England was also prince ...

To the Grey's!

I can't find much information about the 343rd Infantry in WWI. They were part of the 86th Infantry Division in WWII but I can't find out for sure if that was the case in WWI. According to their website http://www.86blackhawkdiv.org/PG03.HTM , the division served as a training unit in WWI and ...

I note that Philadelphia plans to bring back mounted units. http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Philly-Police-Get-Back-in-Saddle-With-Mounted-Units/1$56738
"With recently successful pro sports teams and rowdy Saturday night street scenes, Philly needs police horses for crowd control ...

Roy

I was recently reading some commentary on the Browning Hi Power, which I like quite a bit, in which all the commenters were full of praise for it. As the US went with the M9, and there's always been some unhappiness about that (although the unhappines is really with the 9mm, more than the M9 ...

Joseph Sullivan wrote:Indeed.

However, from the positions of the legs, I assumed that the animals were walking.

You could be right. From my first glance at Robert's horse, I thought he was standing.

Tom:

It looks about right to me. The saddle has center-fire rigging, so the girth is going to be more amidships than with many. If you look at the placement of the pommel relative to the withers, however, it looks about right. Any further and it would possibly press on the withers.

The stirrups ...

Good pix. Interesting that none of them, the General included, appear to be very good horsemen (can't tell about Helen). I see elk necks and hollow backs all 'round, plus a tie down strap and a pretty out-of-balance seat on Robert.
I would be cautious about making generalizations about someone's ...

On the stoves, one thing I thought I'd note, given the fellow in the mackinaw to the left, is that in really cold weather, some older type iron stoves radiate blazing hot heat if you're near them, then a few feet a way, in the same building, it's arctic. Weird how that works, but I've experienced ...

I think this photo is clearly posed. But what it is intended to illustrate is really interesting. These men are all officers, and they're well turned out. They haven't done much shoeing that day. The location does look very much like the period buildings at Ft. Riley in the same period (there's a ...

The current boots for the Army and Marine Corps are tan "rough out" leather with GoreTex or other fabric in the uppers. The Air Force has gone to a bilious green, but the materials are still fabric and rough leather. When I was assigned to an Air Force unit this month, I had to go back to BDUs which ...

The Halflinger is a good example of a breed which is reasonably suitable for both draft and riding work. I had a neighbor in Oklahoma who had Halflingers and I rode them sometimes. They certainly aren't the kind of athlete that a Thoroughbred is, but they have a comfortable gait and can go all day ...

In short, this is not a disease to be "toyed with" but hysteria (mass pig slaughter, border closings, etc.) will not help and may cause other, equally severe problems.
Well put. There is a difference between "concern" and "panic" that a lot of people seem unable to discern.

A few weeks ago, I spoke to a retired Army NCO who related that about 3 years ago while training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, "The mounted troops gave the armor fits. They hit them from places where the tankers thought nobody could go." Apparently, even though the mounted unit at ...

Pat, you're spot on about the advantages and disadvantages of different hat materials. In fact, I grew up on a working cattle ranch and I do know the difference between a higher quality hat and a lower quality one. In fact, I own a lovely silverbelly gray 10x beaver cowboy hat, but I really only ...

Practical items just keep on going and going. Here is my favorite hat...crushable, water repellent, and rugged...
http://www.sheplers.com/i/p/096/096606/096606_c4_p1_770x.jpg
I like it so much, I bought three, just in case they quit making it. It also comes in a lighter color which is very close to ...

Practical items just keep on going and going. Here is my favorite hat...crushable, water repellent, and rugged...
http://www.sheplers.com/i/p/096/096606/096606_c4_p1_770x.jpg
I like it so much, I bought three, just in case they quit making it. It also comes in a lighter color which is very close to ...