Cavalry dismount what and why?

Trewsers

Trewsers

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Oct 13, 2004
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What is meant by the cavalry dismount (apologies if spelt wrong)? And why did they use it? Is it because of their sword being carried on a certain side? OH is currently half way through a Bernard Cornwall and he keeps asking me these obscure questions (they must have hinted at it at some point in the story). Thanks in advance to you knowledgable equestrian historians!:happy:
 
If I remember rightly - this is very embarrassing my brain is mashed today, its something I used to do all the time without thinking (I rode as a Napoleonic cavalry re-enactor) - Cavalry dismount is swinging leg over the front of the saddle and sliding down with your back/side to the horse. You cannot dismount in the 'normal' way when wearing a sabre :) Plus you have a large blanket roll on front and back of the saddle which also makes it more difficult to mount and dismount (but you are very secure once you are up there!).
 
Since the time of the Ancient Greeks the best dismount for use in war has been as Esther describes - swing one leg over neck and dismount facing forwards

"Considered the best use in war, if the horse will allow it" (Xenophon :nerd:)

Obviously if people are coming at you with sharp pointy things it's preferable not to turn your back on them!!
 
Jane&Ziggy said:
Obviously if people are coming at you with sharp pointy things it's preferable not to turn your back on them!!
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Very true!

You can see a fairly typical napoleonic saddle and uniform here - of course we were riding as Polish Lancers, hence the large 'N' that gives away our side, and lots of shiny bits as the Lancers were an elite unit. If you are wondering why I (completely British) would ride for the 'other side', that was the only unit at the time in the UK accepting female riders.

lancermounted.jpg


I'm the short girly lancer dismounted at the back :biggrin: I am wearing stable dress trousers, my o/h in the foreground has his full dress trousers on. Technically I should be wearing a stable jacket (plain blue short jacket) with those trousers but I was just wearing them to warm up in.
 
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i usually do a cavalry dismount:giggle: cos i find it easier to control the speed at which i hit the ground and since i injured my ankle im wary of landing on it too heavily. The downside is that i strained my shoulder by holding on and lowering myself slowly:redface:
 
Jane&Ziggy said:
So cool! Are little shorthouse Connemaras allowed to play??
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Connemara far more authentic size than the big guys you usually see. Most cavalry mounts of the period were around 14.2 ish, went down to 13.2hh, only a handful over 15.2hh according to the records of the period.

Main problem is the distance when using your own horse, there are events all over the country so most people tend to use stunt horses hired for the event. This pic was taken in Poland, where we were using Polish horses. It is good fun though, sadly no possible since we moved to Shetland...not really much call for Napoleonic cavalry up here :biggrin: , and tbh not sure I would do it now I have kids as it is relatively high risk (no decent hard hat for a start) and riding unknown horses in battle situations with cannon going off! However touch wood there are remarkably few injuries as it is usually kept pretty controlled.
 
Wowser Esther!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats amazing that you actually did that stuff, respect is due missus (and I don't blame you for not wanting to do it now you have kids - totally understand with the no proper hat thingie!). Fab piccies - what an interesting horsey life you have led! I love anything like that (sadly will probably never partake in it, but would love to watch).
Thank you all so much for the replies! OH did wonder if it were because its not a good idea to turn your back on the enemy - but we weren't actually sure what the dismount entailed - now we know! Will report back to him!

Just as a thought, perhaps any of you that are really into equestrian history would like to post threads about it? Its something I love reading about and I'm sure there are others on here that would enjoy such threads?
 
Thats they way my 5 yr old dismounts as he says its further down if he swings his leg over the back of the saddle instead of the front....I have tried to explain but a 5 yr old is always right :bounce: I guess coming off a 16hh horse it does feel quite high either way !
 
The answer to this will depend on which cavalry wont it?

For reasons of physical decay, I have always got off using the left stirrup to lift myself clear of the saddle and then swung my leg over behind. This is similar to the Western dismount where the rider then steps straight down to the ground.
I dont. I bring my legs together, take the weight on my hands on the saddle, swing my left foot clear of the stirrup and drop to the ground.

A British army officer who became an RI later told me not to apologise. He said, I used the cavalry dismount. I got the idea at horseguards that the cavalry swing their legs over the back of the saddle and remain upright at attention hanging at the side of the horse, until the next order comes whereupon they all hit the ground simultaneously.

With respect to Esther and her superior historical knowledge, I never saw British cavalry dismount by swinging the leg over the neck of the horse nor turning their back towards the horse as the slide off. One must be facing one's horse. But Parade may be different from in a battle?

My understanding was the the cavalry dismount reverses the mounting of the horse. It avoids catching the sword and the front of the uniform (breast plate) on the horse or saddle. But the cavalry man must be able to clear the back of the saddle and any pack or bed roll fixed there.
 
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skib don't apologise, my brain is so frazzled today I don't know which way is up at the moment let alone whether I am talking nonsense, honestly couldn't tell you tonight, might be thinking more sense in the morning. I suspect there is more than one cavalry dismount anyway tbh, there being many different cavalry regiments the world over. I have certainly seem that form of dismount used by modern cavalry.

I am an archaeologist and a cavalry re-enactor not a historian anyway so am happy to be corrected by anyone on this point.
 
Like Skib, I always thought a cavalry dismount was where you kept the left foot in the stirrup before swinging the right leg over, then took your weight on your hands while you kicked your left leg out. I don't know why the cavalry were supposed to do it - I'll look it up.

Whenever I've tried it, I've ended up on my back under the horse. Not very impressive.
 
The cavalry did it Linda so as not to get caught on their swords, uniforms or saddles.
If you allow the front of your stomach and chest to slide down the horse your clothing can get dragged up, as anyone who owns a body protector with a belt knows.
For women it has other advantqages - after my appendix op I found I could jump a bit clear of the horse when dismounting so nothing pressed on my tummy.
 
Checked with o/h last night to see if I was imagining things...he agrees that there are two cavalry dismounts. He believes re Cornwell I am right in saying that it is the swing leg over neck and slide down forwards that is the style he is referring to as that tended to be the earlier one adopted due to carrying carbine, sabre etc. However he knows the one skib and Linda are referring to as the Guards dismount - so also a cavalry dismount. Does that help :unsure:
 
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