The French Cavalry Manual-Free Download

A small group of classic works written at the beginning of the 29th century had a huge influence on riding as we see it today. Certainly the Cavalry School’s  3 volume “Horsemanship and Horsemastership”, the works of Harry Chamberlin, and those of Piero Santini belong in this small group.  “The Manual of Equitation of the French Army for 1912” should be included in this group. It was published by the U.S War Department for use in the Mounted Service School. This French Cavalry Manual laid the foundation for the system we use today.

Although you’ll not find the forward seat in the Manual of Equitation of the French Army for 1912, neither will you find extreme collection and carriage or the teaching of “high school” riding. Instead you’ll find guidance for instructors, instruction on co-ordi- nation of the aids, gymnastics and position of the rider, and a system for breaking and training horses. … Continue Reading

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What is U.S. Horsemanship?

The dictionary defines horsemanship as the art, ability, or skill of riding horse, but U.S. horsemanship is so much more than that. It’s roots reach back to the 1500s when  Spanish conquistadors explored the New World, through the history of California and Texas and the Cowboys in the west , to the horses and horse racing that the British brought to the colonies. The Founding fathers of our country were horseman  and horsemanship played a role in all of the wars that formed our Nation. The United States was built with horsemanship.

English riding dominated the east coast while western style riding dominated the West.  The South was the home to the plantation horses, another different style of riding. And while the East may have had less work and more sport associated with horsemanship it ran a parallel with the West, each seat and style serving a unique purpose.  Racing developed in the east while a form of  deadly racing developed in the west through the Pony Express, Cowboys moved herds and worked on ranches in the west  while children rode horses to school and  Fox Hunting flourished in the east. … Continue Reading

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Why Have a Blog about U.S. Horsemanship?

It’s personal.  As a kid in the ‘60s I had the chance to see things that were part of our history and now 50 years later some of that history has faded away. And frankly,  I don’t want to see it disappear. I want the young U. S. horsemen and women to have the chance to know what came before them, to realize the hard work, pride and tradition  that undergirds U.S. horsemanship.

I stood at the rail in Madison Square Garden watching great riders like Bill Steinkraus, Kathy Kusner, Frank Chapot, Hugh Wiley, the d’Inzeo brothers, Tom Gayford, the Argentine team, and the Irish Team etc.  I saw amazing horses like Untouchable, Bold Minstrel, Riviera Wonder, Ksar d’Esprit, Nautical, Snowbound, Aberali and Sinjon. I Stood right next to a puissance wall when the height of 7’1″ was achieved. I remember hearing the horse canter up, suddenly a grunt and no more hoof beats, the ears appeared, then knees, then the rest of the horse.  Silence was followed by a thud and grunt as the horse cantered off amid audience cheers

… Continue Reading

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We Owe It to the Military

by Barbara Ellin Fox

Modern jumping in America owes its success to the Military; to the United States Cavalry to be specific. From 1923-1933 the US Army sent 15 or 16 horsemen to study the principals of Caprilli’s forward riding at the Italian Cavalry Schools. Generally the men spent one year at the school, although a few attended for 2 years. Harry D. Chamberlin not only attended Tor Di Quinto, the advanced Italian Cavalry School, he also graduated from the French Cavalry School at Saumur.

With the help of other cavalrymen and a wide selection of horses, Harry Chamberlin developed a relationship between the French Cavalry School principals and the Italian Cavalry School (Caprilli) principals resulting in a method of riding that best suited the equestrian activities in America. The method has been called the Fort Riley Seat, the Chamberlin Seat, or the Military Seat. It has also been referred to as Balanced Seat.

The Cavalry School at Fort Riley began in 1919 and continued until shortly after WWII, when the Cavalry was “dismounted”. It wasn’t until 1929 that a Board of Officers was formed to revise the previous, “Manual of Equitation” and incorporate a seat that was more suitable for cross country, hunting, steeplechase and show jumping. Up until1929 the static, deep seat was taught with very little influence from Caprilli’s forward methods. … Continue Reading

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