Military horses were not only a means of transportation. A soldiers' life depended on his equine partner. Always together, whether in camp or under fire, their relationship went deep. Knowing each other so well meant they fought as a single unit, a very effective fighting machine. A mounted soldier learned to work with his horse, to balance his horse and himself, to create the latent energy needed for a charge or hand to hand combat.
It is from these military men and horses that the art of Dressage has been developed and passed from generation to generation.
Regarding #13, I did a project on WWI in college. Auto mechanics and horseshoeing were taught in the same class during the training for American soldiers. I guess back then both fell under "transportation.".
AntwortenLöschenI think at that time horses were much more dependable and understandable than motorized vehicles. For some of us, they still are. ;-) I do love that picture though. Can't you just hear the mounted soldiers mocking the truck driver?
AntwortenLöschenRomy
AntwortenLöschenI have some notes that General Patton was given Favory Africa by the SRS. Does anyone know if that is true, and if so, is that F. Africa in the foto? I have no other info about the foto than what is printed under it.
Kisses
Romy
Hello, My name is Marcia Miner and I currently trying to identify every rider and horse from the SRS. I collect Lipizzaner postcards and my father was in WWII under Patton. However he was in the Bulge (RATS). In all my research I have never read that Patton was given N. Africa. I have read that Patton was given a Stallion, but I don't know who. I do have photos of Podhasky riding N. Africa most of the late 40's. I don't have any information on F. Africa. Do you mean N. Africa? N. Africa had a very dark marks on both sides of his face. About his eyes.
AntwortenLöschenI was not finished, I spelled Podhajsky wrong. A BIG Sorry!
AntwortenLöschenPodhajsky did ride N. Africa at the performance in St Martin for Patton. Podhajsky writes very fondly of N. Africa.
AntwortenLöschenI just finished reading the book "Horse Soldiers" which is about the US Special Forces soldiers joining with the Northern Alliance Forces in Afghanistan in the beginning of the current US war in Afghanistan. Although the book isn't about horses, it shows how much horses are being used in the military to this day. They used horses almost exclusively for transportation and for battle against the Taliban's tanks and guns. The horses ran straight into fire. With the help of US bombs, they won the battles.
AntwortenLöschenThe little horses were amazingly hardy and bold. I hate to imagine how many horses lost their lives.
Absolutely! The horse has suffered and served man more than any other animal. Genghis Khan conquered the greatest land empire the world has ever known on the backs of his furry steppe ponies. As early as Ancient Egypt and as you say all the way to today, the horse has played a huge role in warfare, with bravery. In World War II, the Polish cavalry charged Hitler's tanks. In WWI, horses were so important that they were fitted with special gas masks to survive mustard gas attacks. It's so sad that so many died serving in wars for which they never volunteered.
AntwortenLöschenThe author is unknown, but I often think of the quote below when discussing just how much we owe to the horse:
AntwortenLöschen"Look back at our struggle for freedom, trace out present day's strength to it's source; and you'll find that man's pathway to glory is strewn with the bones of a horse."
Romy, I tried digging for F. VIII Africa, born 1933. There are No records or pictures. This is what is bugging me so much! There has to be a photo somewhere, it is just not identified! No records, no nothing. I do understand there was a war going on but even after the war, very few pictures were identified. The age could be right if he were given to Patton in 1945, but Patton never took delivery of any horses. If he was in the bunch that arrived in Virginia, he was never logged in. Most of the horses were shipped to Pomona, including several mares. All the mares were sold.
AntwortenLöschenBest I could do... Research is fun...... If you love headaches! Just kidding.
Marcia
Definitely.
AntwortenLöschenMarcia,
AntwortenLöschenF.Africa was not given to Patton. He rode F. Africa in Vienna. The pictures are identified in U.S. Army records, specifically the Second Cavalry. They were taken by U.S.military photographers. For some years few or no pictures are available, as the stallions were in transit from one haven to another and the staff were dealing with many hardships- scarce food, uncertain stabling, military occupation, to name a few. Just keeping the horses alive was an extremely hard, at times heartbreaking task. The fact that the riders kept up the training and managed to put on some performances is astonishing. The stallions did not return to Vienna for 10 years after the war was over.
Romy