Photo By Sgt. Kelsey Simmons | Ivy Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard pose for...... read more read more
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The Regional Cavalry Competition began its course early Thursday, April 21, 2020, at the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, San Angelo, Texas. Both military and civilian competitors traveled across the United States to participate in this tradition inspired by 1800s-era cavalry units. Competitors arrived from military bases such as Fort Carson, Fort Irwin, and Fort Hood, including last year's champion, Martina Peters, from Sierra Vista, Arizona.
The U.S. Cavalry Association and the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark host the Regional Cavalry Competition each year. Its mission is to preserve the history and traditions of the U.S. Cavalry service. Cavalry means Soldiers fighting on horseback, which was the only way troops got around in the 1800s. The competition honors the era by encompassing the attire and horseback riding used for battle.
The first event, Military Horsemanship, began at 9 a.m. The Military Horsemanship event consisted of different skills and maneuvers to show the judges that the rider could control their horse. Judges rated how smoothly and obediently the horse responded to its rider.
"Military horsemanship is a dressage test," said Jeffrey Wall, a judge for the Regional Cavalry Competition. "Dressage is a set of military calisthenics for the horse, and every move in a dressage arena has a military purpose. The overriding purpose is to evaluate the horse and the rider as a team to see if the horse is relaxed, supple and obedient to the desires of the rider."
The competition was followed by the jumping event, which consisted of three skill-level categories. The first, level three, included eight numbered obstacles as high as two feet nine inches spread throughout the arena. The last obstacle had an in and out pattern with enough room for only one trot in between the last two obstacles. Next was the level two jumping event, which followed the same pattern, except that the obstacles were two feet high. Lastly was the level one jumping competition, which lowered the height of the obstacles.
Competitors must follow specific guidelines to avoid disqualification, such as becoming dismounted during the competition or exceeding three attempts on a single jump. Considering the audience and cameras all around, it can be hard to predict how a horse will perform. More often than not, the horse can get shy or intimidated and fail a jump.
Sgt. Justin Robinson, a motor transport operator on special duty with the 4th Infantry Division Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, had a close call when his horse, Staff Sgt. Link refused obstacle number three twice; he only had one last chance, but Link completed the jump.
"They're a lot like us," Robinson said about overcoming the obstacle. "There are days when we're feeling down or days when we're not able to do something we're more than capable of doing, and you just need somebody to encourage you. I was just like, 'Man, we're gonna we're gonna get through it.' So I took him back around and lined him up and gave him some encouragement. I gave him a couple of patts, told him he could do it, and we did it."
The three-day-long competition will be followed on Friday with Combat Horsemanship, including riding with a pistol and saber. Saturday morning will include a parade and unit demonstrations, finishing with the Hesse Cup Championship Competition.
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| Date Taken: | 04.21.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 04.23.2022 13:37 |
| Story ID: | 419025 |
| Location: | SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, US |
| Hometown: | COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CARSON, COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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