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Alexander wrote:Gentlemen,

Here's another nice piece depicts cavalry training in 1943. We've seen many of such pictures with US or British cavalry and now Soviet. Laying a horse was a common practice which horsemen learned to perform because it was extremely helpful in reconnaissance. I haven't seen using of horse as cover by Red cavalry before so this photo provides us with valuable information regarding of what Soviet cavalry was trained to do.
Please note that a cavalryman in the background armed with sub-machine gun. Also we can see some saddle tack. As you can see cincha is different from McClellan's. Two leather straps and what is called the connecting strap.


Photo by Boris Ignatovich.

Alex.

Great example of this technique, the first I've seen of Red Army cavalrymen practicing this.

Pat Holscher wrote:

Alexander wrote:Gentlemen,

Here's another nice piece depicts cavalry training in 1943. We've seen many of such pictures with US or British cavalry and now Soviet. Laying a horse was a common practice which horsemen learned to perform because it was extremely helpful in reconnaissance. I haven't seen using of horse as cover by Red cavalry before so this photo provides us with valuable information regarding of what Soviet cavalry was trained to do.
Please note that a cavalryman in the background armed with sub-machine gun. Also we can see some saddle tack. As you can see cincha is different from McClellan's. Two leather straps and what is called the connecting strap.


Photo by Boris Ignatovich.

Alex.

Great example of this technique, the first I've seen of Red Army cavalrymen practicing this.

Nice fine grain b&W 35 mm photo too, I'd note.

Alexander wrote:I've seen this picture attributed as trooper in cavalry school, circa 1930. It could be an officer judging by his uniform and lapel's insignia, saddle and pistol with a lanyard. But it's hard to tell for sure.



Alex.

Terrible seat, I'd note. An example of the "chair seat" that is so often derided, correctly, now days. Slumped shoulders, chair like position, etc.

Pat Holscher wrote:
Great example of this technique, the first I've seen of Red Army cavalrymen practicing this.

Pat,

Yes, there's not much photos of this, but my father told me that his grandpa told him that this was a common practice, every horsemen was trained to do so. I'm betting that recon patrols used this technique much often than somebody else.

Alex.

Pat Holscher wrote:
Terrible seat, I'd note. An example of the "chair seat" that is so often derided, correctly, now days. Slumped shoulders, chair like position, etc.

Pat,

Yep. But it's not uncommon even nowadays. I've seen a horse policemen who were sitting just like this in 2011. Even I will do the same mistake if I'll ride the horse today. Because I haven't seen much practice recently.

I can offer following explanation - this man ride as he was trained or accustomed to. Judging by his look he can be either a rank and file in the end of Great War or he began to ride during the Civil War. Haven't seen cavalry manuals of Russian Imperial Army but manuals of 1938 and 1953 shows that such seat is clearly incorrect.

Alex.

Here goes another one "Use your horse as cover, Ivan" picture.



Date and other attributes are unknown, sorry. When and if it will be available I will post them.

Alex.

And here's one more.



Possibly 17th Cossack cavalry corps (later 4th Guard Cossack cavalry corps) in 1942-1943. Corps distinguished itself in during battles in Caucasus, Belorussia, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Worthy to say that in beginning it was a voluntary unit, organized and equiped by Cossacks themselves.

Note the Cossack saddle!

Alex.

Soviet cavalry troopers in 1941. Photo was taken by Margaret Bourke-White, a LIFE reporter who spent in first month of war in Moscow.

Note the variety of bridles. One trooper uses a curb bit and another snaffle bit. This may be explained by different level of training or by unsufficient equipment. Although in Soviet cavalry manual there wasn't any objections to use both of this devices if needed.


Photo by Margaret Bourke-White.

Alex.

Hi everyone and sorry for a long absense!

http://scilib.narod.ru/Military/Cavalry ... nual53.htm

Pat Holscher asked me to post here the following Training Manual for Soviet Army Cavalry (not that I'm wouldn't going to do this anyway, just there's so much to do these days besides of Internet).
Please note that Soviet Cavalry was at first an effective Mounted Infantry force even if they had sabers and was trained to use it and this manual is:
1) for basic training
2) there's no animal management
3) no unit management
4) no equipment care
5) no recon practices
6) no combat instructions

There's:
1) how to mount your horse, ride, jump
2) how to use a saber while mounted
3) how to maneuver a horse in a various orders
4) basic equipment info
5) how to properly pack saddle
6) musical signals with notes
7) schemes of orders and formations
... and many more.

And it's in Russian. Jim Bewley though says that Google translates most of the manual very good. There're many pictures which cannot be translated so if you're interested in it I will gladly help.