Review of Cavalry Tapes

[Jim Bewley]

I was doing some research at Carlisle Barracks, PA. and met an individual whose job it was to collect and review old Army training films. He would then convert the ones he thought best to VCR format. I looked through all the films he had and located several on Cavalry releated topics. Most were not on VCR. One thing lead to another and he put me in contact with John Seaburn who runs Ventage Vedio from the basement of his home. I convenced John that the cavalry tapes would sell and he should copy all of them. Needless to say he did. The tapes on how to ride are in three volumes. They cover "Saddling & Bridling" "Mounting, Dismounting & Military Seat" "Aids & Gaits" "Suppling Excercises" "Jumping & Cross Country Riding". I think that the tapes are good because the instructor shows and tells you what to do and then as his students try it they each make the most common mistakes while he corrects them. You not only hear what to do but also see what not to do. The detail is very good. The segment on Aids & Gaits makes two and four beat movements very clear I return to mine often when I am having a problem. My wife even used them to get the correct fitting for a double bridle as well as how the reins are held and transfered to one hand only. These tapes follow three books printed at the Cavalry School called "Horesmanship" volumes 1,2 & 3. These books have been reprinted and can be obtained from the U.S. Cavalry Association, PO Box 2325, Ft Riley, KS 66442. The tapes and the books are a must have in my opinion. There is also a training film tape on "Mounted Scouting & Patroling". This shows two cavalrymen doing a scouting mission against what look like Germans. It does show that the horse can be effective against vehicles and machine guns and it is well worth watching. Another is "Horsemastership". It deals with shoeing and care of the horse in the field. It too is well done. He also has a tape called "A Year in The Life of A Cavalsyman". It is a documentary that was never released. No sound but in full color. It shows life in a cavalry troop from the way they lived and trained, to the games they played on horseback. It was a sort of home movie type project done by a commander of the 11th Cav which he thought might make him famous. This was conformed buy a gentleman I met in the hunt field who was stationed with the unit when the film was being made. He promised to do a comentary to go with the film however he passed away before we could do it.That was a loss I will never forgive myself for. All the tapes are worth having as you will not just view them once.

Jim

[Pat Holscher]

I'd seen these quite a while ago, but didn't own them. I recently purchased them. They're really handy, I'd forgotten how good they are, no matter what style of riding a person might use. No doubt they do not substitue for a good trainer, but they're pretty good material.

Pat