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	Company Profile: FLOWTECH

Mounted Re-enactment

I am a member of Sir William Waller's Lifeguard of Horse, which portrays a troop of harquebusiers, or light cavalry from the Parliamentarian Army during the English Civil War and also a troop of dragoons of the same period. This is an area of riding which is quite unusual and gets little publicity, but is one in which non-horse owners can participate on an equal footing with owners. Some troopers do take their own horses to battles and keep them in an electric paddock overnight, but this is limited by distances and facilities, not to mention the suitability of the horse: many horses are simply not suited to this type of work, so most members, whether they own horses or not, will use the hired animals.

I think it is fair to say that our members ride to re-enact, not the other way round: yes, horses are provided free of charge, but this is most definitely NOT a way of getting cheap riding. There is a lot of expense involved in buying the outfits and weapons for both horse and rider, and a lot of hard work entertaining the public throughout the day, not just during battles.

I am a relatively new member (I only transferred from re-enacting infantry last September), so let me take you through a typical day at a re-enactment, to give you a flavour of what we do.

We normally camp, so it's a full fry up on the barbecue before heading over to the Living History camp at about 0900. This camp is a representation of life in the mid-seventeenth century, and most of the day is spent here, talking to the public about life as a cavalry trooper and other aspects of the Civil War. The horselines are sometimes some distance from the camp, so we will go over there and collect a couple of the better behaved horses and take them back to Living History to spend the day in a rope corral.

The public love to spend time, as our Adjutant so eloquently put it, talking to the horses and patting the troopers! We set up a canvas water trough and give them some hay, and ensure that there is someone with the horses at all times, just in case.

Usually there is a pre-battle display at about 1300, so after a lunch of stew cooked on the open fire by some of our members, we head over to the horse lines to groom and tack up the horses. We tend to always have horses supplied by a particular stables, and they are generally well trained and used to the sights and sounds of battle. (I was amazed the first time I rode in a battle; we were standing still 15 feet away from a large cannon when it fired.

The horse's ears flicked; the public jumped and screamed). Saying that, though, new horses occasionally appear, and any horse can have an off day, so you never quite know how the horse is going to react on the field. Most troopers take along their own authentic tack comprising saddle, bridle, pistol cases and breastplates.

The saddles tend to be based on the military UP pattern, and so will fit any horse. After sorting out the horses, we get our own kit on, and mount ready to ride to the display area. Our pre-battle display shows seventeenth century cavalry drill with manoeuvres such as moving from column into line, from two ranks into one, wheeling an keeping dressing (interesting as the inside horse is turning on the spot whilst the outside horse is almost cantering), about turns at walk and trot etc, and we also demonstrate firing our pistols whilst mounted.

We then move on to skill at arms, when we divide into two teams and compete at slicing cabbages on poles with our swords at the canter. After that comes the culmination of the display with demonstrations of fighting techniques, including running fights at the canter, and the cavalry charge at the audience.

After that, dependent upon time, we will either ride back to the horse lines or assemble the horses in Living history ready for the battle, once more chatting with the public about what we do. The battle is the main event of the day, and takes about one and a half hours.

A script is followed so we know roughly what our role will be during the fray, and who is supposed to win and lose, and how. We will spend the battle fighting both infantry and other cavalry, and it is an exhausting and exhilarating experience for rider and horse alike.

Riding in a battle is unlike any other sort of riding experience; you cannot afford to think about aids; riding must be totally instinctive as you are busy using your sword, trying to get past your opponent's parries at the same time.

You are surrounded by musket and cannon fire, by flags, drums and brightly clad people, not to mention bodies on the ground and the odd lost musketeer, all of which need to be safely avoided. You need to listen for and respond to orders immediately and, above all, keep control of your horse at all times. Half a ton of horseflesh running scared across a battlefield is a frightening and dangerous prospect.

After the march past at the end of the battle, it's off to the horselines again to cool the horses off and untack them, before heading back to living history to answer any queries from the public. We will spend the evenings talking, singing (and possible drinking!) around a campfire before heading back to our tents, ready to do the whole thing again the next day, but this time also taking down the tent and driving perhaps 200 miles home.

We have recently added a troop of dragoons to the regiment. Dragoons will ride to the battle and then fight on foot closely supporting the cavalry, and so the standard of riding required is not quite so high, although the commitment necessary is. Yes, mounted re-enactment is expensive (although we do loan kit to new members), and it is hard work, but the rewards far outweigh the drawbacks.

Riding for a reason, not just for the sake of riding is a wonderful experience, but one shared by, for example, polo and horse ball players. Re-enactment gives you two things which nothing else can: firstly, the experience, as far as possible, of riding and using horses as they were 350 years ago, and learning the skills to fight on horseback; a moribund branch of horsemanship in this day and age; and secondly, the feeling of satisfaction gained by educating the public in this often misunderstood part of our heritage.

Alright, the adrenalin and good company might come into it as well! Working so closely together, the teamwork and camaraderie in the regiment is second to none.

Joining Waller's was one of the best moves I've made! We are always interested in new recruits, male or female, and the standard of riding required is not excessive: prospective riders will be tested on riding securely at all paces with and without stirrups, with only one hand on the reins and both up and down hill, but the most important part of the test is riding in a battle and proving your safety and competency on the field.

The dragoons simply have to be in full control of the horse at walk and trot. These criteria sound simple, but it's amazing how many 'experienced' riders have failed, and being a superb rider in a discipline such as dressage or show jumping does not automatically mean that you are able to ride as a re-enactor, while some less classically advanced riders make superb mounted re-enactors.

We will, of course, train new members in the use of the weapons, and everyone also has to pass a test on the mounted use of the sword. A sword handles incorrectly with the combined weight of cantering horse and rider behind it could do a lot of damage, even when blunt. If the above sounds fun, you think you can fulfil the riding criteria, you have an interest in both history and horses and you are prepared for lots of hard work and even more fun, then drop me an e-mail have a chat.

Sue Dudley Gentleman Volunteer Sir William Waller's Lifeguard of Horse Sue.Dudley@nhbirmingham.com

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