May I take this opportunity to introduce to you, The International Cavalry Competition being held in September, 2012 at Poznan Poland.
The International Cavalry Competition, is not just a mounted skill at arms competition although this has a big part to play. It is a total horsemanship competition related to being cavalry.
Here is a piece of an email that was sent out recently outlining the brief for the sub-committee of rule makers to work to. As you can see it has a much wider brush stroke than the current mounted skill at arms mind set. This is because the competitions are meant to test the total cavalryman as against the ability of being a good weapons platform.
‘As discussed, here are the elements that have come to the fore to be included in the ICC which the Rule Makers should look to include. There is a bonus in a lot of these elements are standard international horsemanship contests that are known by all.
• Standard Dressage Test FEI
• Standard Showjumping Competition with fault system laid out as per FEI
• Standard Cross-Country (Military) Competition as per the current Polish ‘Lancer Days’ Comp.
• Rifle competition with live ammunition to take place at rifle range.
• Mounted Skill at Arms competition to take into account, the running at targets both with lance and sword, the use of hand guns against targets with the inclusion of obstacles in the course (jumps). The use of the lance, both in multiple hits (melee) and the inclusion of Tentpegging and the running at rings.
• A form of team event such as the Campaign Competition of the Northamptonshire Yeomanry(mounted), or the Howze Cup of the USCA. This is to test the team work of the cavalry teams and to demonstrate drill and manoeuvres.’
As you can see, this will open up whole new vistas for some which should enhance us all in our chosen direction.
The teams that have said they want to send a team to the ICC in Poland thus far are UK, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Namibia, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and Poland. Some of these countries are sending both Volunteer Cavalry as well as regular army teams. We are awaiting on others such as South Africa and Australia to say if they fancy a bash too.
If you feel this is right for you, let me know so we can include you at this early stage in the planning.
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