BS: A cavalry order

Subject: BS: A cavalry order
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 03:13 AM

I have heard that in some cavalry regiments, at the end of mounted parades, between the orders 'Dismount' and 'Dismiss', the order is given 'Make much of your horses'.

I have always thought this delightful. Can anyone tell me, is it true, or some sort of folktale or urban myth?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: GUEST,Musket
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 04:00 AM

It gets lonely out on manoeuvres.




Hi Michael.

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 04:16 AM

In Rudyard Kipling's The New Army In Training the men are instructed to 'Make much of your horses'. And at the dismantling of an Indian cavalry regiment in, I think, Bombay, the Colonel ordered the men to do the same before the horses were taken away from them for good. Got these two from Google, and it would seem quite usual to 'make much of the horses'. I too think it's delightful, and I'm sure (I rode for years when young) a firm bond existed between a man and his horse (as in 'Warhorse' for example)

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 04:53 AM

Thank you, Eliza. Your second sentence peculiarly poignant!

Does anyone know, is it still a regularly given command anywhere in the cavalry?

Hi rite-bacter-u, Ian.


~M~

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 05:36 AM

I served in the British cavalry, The 9/12th Royal Lancers, unfortunately modern cavalry regiments use either tanks or armoured cars, horses for ceremonial duties only, so there is nowhere the order would apply except perhaps for The Household Cavalry who still use the old ranks of Corporal of Horse and Corporal Major.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 06:42 AM

I know that the cavalry regiments are now mechanised, Dave. But also that all their members are required to be horsemen able to take part in ceremonial duties on horseback. Or were when I was a National Serviceman, but that is 60+ years ago now? Is that no longer the case?

I take it you are a horseman yourself? When did you serve? What ceremonial mounted duties did you discharge? Were you ever subject to this order?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: G-Force
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 08:20 AM

Apparently, the Dutch equivalent of 'mount your animals' sounds like 'scrambling up de beasties'.

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 08:53 AM

I joined in 1964 and was discharged in 1968 with a busted knee, in all that time I never rode a horse, I believe only some Guards and Household Cavalry regiments had horses full time for ceremonial duties, apart from the personal mounts of a few officers, but this was very rare.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 08:57 AM

Incidently I would be surprised if this order was not still being used in the Guards and the like, all senior regiments love to keep their traditions, and this order is unique to the mounted regiments.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Rapparee
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 09:36 AM

I understand in the US Army the tank people, who wear the crossed sabers of the cavalry, are told "Make much of your tanks" before they are dismissed. They then go to the beer gardens and brag about their tanks and how they curry them, and check their treads for rocks, and grease their turrets, and all sorts of things.

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:36 AM

Busy Googling again, I found the annual newsletter of the Light Cavalry, Honourable Artillery Company nowadays always ends with 'Gentlemen, Make Much Of Your Horses'. Which is not to say they actually do it when dismounting, but as Dave says, it would be likely that they'd keep the tradition going.

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: MartinRyan
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 11:49 AM

In fact, isn't it quite striking how much the phrase appears to be used in equestrian circles still?


Regards

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 10 Mar 14 - 05:29 PM

Thanks MtheGM for bringing that to our attention. It is very interesting.

I wondered exactly what it meant.

I think this is it.

Make Much of Your Horses.

Pat/scratch the neck/ears of your horse until the command 'Front' is given, at which time, return to the attention.

www.xvld.org/cavalry-mounting-orders.html

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Teribus
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 02:37 AM

" I would be surprised if this order was not still being used in the Guards and the like, all senior regiments love to keep their traditions, and this order is unique to the mounted regiments."

Number of funny stories and comments made when Army units underwent amphibious training, particularly the Household Brigade. I can remember one of their officers explaining that they had to do something a particular way because of "tradition" which was met with the glorious comment by one of the Royal Navy Officers present:

"The army haven't been in existence long enough to establish traditions, they have merely acquired habits."

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 04:45 AM

Jack: Many thanks for that confirming ref to XV Light Dragoon Drill Manual. I am interested to find that the 'making much' occurs before, rather than after, dismount, by reaching forward to caress the horse's head, neck & ears from the saddle, rather than standing at the horse's head after dismounting. Anyone know of any instances among regiments when the 'making much' will happen after the dismount?

Whenever I have ridden [not v often, but I would occasionally ride in my long-ago youth], I would always make a point of caressing my hired horse's head & face before mounting, and expressing in words the hope he would enjoy carrying me [horses respond to being spoken to in my experience], and thanking him & caressing again after dismounting at the end. Do any cavalrymen routinely do anything like this, I wonder?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 01:45 PM

Even in a riding school environment at the end of a lesson the instructor will tell the students to "make much of your horses."
I used to be involved with Napoleonic battle re-enactments in the cavalry.
On one re- enactment a Dutch member of the group fell off when his horse jumped sideways. I will never forget his wonderful description.
" The canon fired , the horse jumped sideways and I found myself in a vacuum of transportation"
What a wonderful phrase.

Subject: RE: BS: A cavalry order
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 11 Mar 14 - 01:59 PM

Better that "Boom! and I was on me arse!"?

You are welcome Michael and thanks to Allan C for bringing this to my attention on Facebook.

It is really a delightful thing.