American Military Horsemanship

Joseph Sullivan, Trustee, United States Cavalry Association, Fort Riley, Kansas and noted Cavalry Historian

“American Military Horsemanship is an interesting and easy read that nevertheless packs some scholarly wallop on the subject of the evolution of military horsemanship in the United States. It is an imortant topic that has heretofore been untouched in anything like a thorough manner. There is much written about tactics, gear, and soldiers, but little that would tell us how those dragoons, mounted rifles, and cavalrymen actually rode the tens of thousands of miles of scouts and engagements that made up cavalry life. Jim Ottevaere not only tells us how is was, he guides us through the changes in thinking that took place as the cavalry matured and adapted to North American conditions -- or, interestingly in some cases how change came in fits and starts as new ideas took hold, were rejected, and took hold again. He also shows how military saddles adapted to, or held back change. Of special interest is the debate that raged abound the venerable McClellan saddle.
            Not many Americans are aware that US Cavalry horsemanship and tactics were from the early Dragoons through the brown-shoe Army not only influenced by, but copied directly from the French, through almost word-for-word translations. Even fewer know that the basis of the best of modern cross-country and eventing technique was developed by Americans at Ft. Riley, Kansas in the waning years of the cavalry, by some world class Army horsemen who took the best of the French and Italian schools and added some distinctive improvements. Even the better informed often believe that the great Italian Frederico Caprilli somehow influenced major change on these shores. American Military Horsemanship sets the record straight.
         The book is well illustrated throughout diagrams taken from rare period texts and never before published photos from the author's extensive private collection.
          AS A SPECIAL BENEFIT, extensive excerpts of several military horsemanship manuscripts and manuals dating from the early 19th century through the end of the cavalry are included as appendices, as is the full text of the cavalry manual Horsemanship and Horsemastership (education of the rider).”

From Patrick Holscher, Historian and Trustee,

United States Cavalry Association

One thing really notable in Jim's book is that it includes, as appendices, text from various period Army manuscripts and, as a supplement, Part One, Education of the Rider, from the Army's Horsemanship and Horsemastership. The 1930 Military Seat Manuscript authored by those introducing the forward seat to the Army is included. And, in addition to that, the Education of the Rider text is an improvement on the Army's original, in that it includes the excellent illustrations form the Field Artillery's manual on Elementary Mounted Instruction, which also featured the military seat. People have often asked about the Army's miltiary seat texts here on the forum before, and now they are included in a really nice handy improved format.

From Ron Smith, Dressage Instructor,

show judge and military horseman

Jim has taken an extremely complex subject that is scattered through history, and turned it into the most comprehensive and sensible explanation of Military Horsemanship/Horsemastership I have ever read. This is a must have book for collectors of the art of military riding and for serious students of horsemanship. What Podhajsky did for Dressage, Jim has done for Military Riding.

Jim, my hat is off to you. Damn good work!!!!!!!!!!!

From Bob Wood, Society of the Military Horse

I find “American Military Horsemanship” to be very informative and enjoyable. I am not a historian or collector, as many here seem to be. I was, for example, very interested to learn of the existence of the 1914 Drill Regulations that were never approved. I had never heard of this attempt to refine US military horsemanship. That information, provided in great detail, about the potential rising of US horsemanship standards pre WWI makes me to wonder where we might be as an equestrian nation today if the 1914 Regulations had been approved and implemented.
The information on the practical Balanced or Military seat, particularly like that on pages 61 through 63, is very clear and succinct. It describes the modern application of the Ft. Riley horsemanship principles today, as I understand them. I therefore found the book both historically fascinating with lots of contemporary application for today’s student of riding. The generous appendix information will be of particular help to students, most of whom are women and girls these days, who probably would not otherwise search military manuals for the valuable information contained in this book. I plan to recommend the book to my students.

From John Ruf, Culpeper, Virginia

Jim,

I just finished reading your book, and I have to say thank you. Excellent scholarship, and you make observations and points that I would never have realized on my own. Even though I was familiar with much of the raw data, you have made sense of it all, and imbued it with a deeper meaning. The book is in a position of honor in my "ready reserve" bookshelf, within reach of my desk. Now if I could only translate my new-found understanding into improved horsemanship, I would be complete!

From, Adam Lid

Jim,

Got your book and basically devoured it! Excellent stuff- you did an excellent job at bringing clarity to something that's been a bit of a mystery, at least for me, for awhile. I also like your systematic examination of the various manuals and training doctrines that the US Army employed in cavalry and it really helped me make sense of everything.
However, I do believe that this book's importance is more than simply discussing the military seat, but rather it gives a view of the "nuts and bolts" (pardon the pun) of the cavalryman and his training and how this was viewed.

Now I have more things to think about when I ride!