Many alumni who attended during the early years of mounted cavalry training at Norwich remember it as one of the most treasured aspects of their time on the Hill and it remains one of the most popular topics of research in the University Archives. What we'd like to share here is an extremely abbreviated history of the Norwich mounted cavalry. Those interested in learning more are welcome to visit us on the 5th floor of the Kreitzberg Library to learn more--or try searching our new digital collection website!
Norwich first acquired cavalry mounts in 1909 thanks in large part to the influence of Captain Leslie Chapman, U.S. Cavalry, who was appointed Professor of Military Science and Tactics in 1906. The horses were beloved and became an integral part of the Norwich experience. In addition to military training, they were used for jumping and for the polo team. They also took part in the tradition of the junior mounted expedition to Fort Ethan Allen every summer throughout the early 20th century. Taylor Riding Hall was constructed in 1920 for ring training and was later converted to a hockey arena.
However, the First and Second World Wars solidified a modern style of warfare in which cavalry horses were increasingly obsolete. Along with the Corps of Cadets, the Norwich cavalry horses left campus for war in 1943. Though they did return after the fighting was over, mounted cavalry training had been replaced with armored cavalry; the last mounted U.S. Cavalry unit was inactivated in 1944. The last horses left campus in 1948.
The horses were sorely missed and a variety of efforts were undertaken over the years to bring them back. A Riding Club returned to campus in 1975. The cavalry troop was revived in 1994, training with horses on local farms rather than on campus. Today, they ride in parades; compete in dressage and other horsemanship events; and are once more a fully integrated part of the Corps of Cadets.
Would you like to share memories of cavalry and horsemanship at NU? Comment on Facebook or send us an email!
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