1st Cavalry Horse Detachment
"Charge !!"

The 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment does not have an official Army Lineage. However if they did, it would read something like this:

1970; 1st Lt. Dack convinced the commander of the 1st Armored Division, MG Desobry. to allow a horse mounted color guard. The III Corps Commander, LTG B. E. Powell, and the Army Vice Chief, LTG Palmer agreed to allow the unit as a no cost recruiting tool for the 1st Armored Division.

January 1972; The Horse Platoon was officially established as a Unit-Of-Choice recruiting tool sponsored by The 1st Cavalry Division Association.

May 1980; The 1st Cavalry Horse Platoon is recognized as a Special Ceremonial Unit (SCU) by the department of the Army, UP AR 310-34.

December 1986; The Horse Platoon was redesignated as the Horse Cavalry Detachment (HCD) to better conform to historical precedent.

September 1995; Horse Cavalry Detachment troopers are no longer assigned as special duty (SD) status. The 1st Cavalry Division REG 611-200 authorized Horse Cavalry Detachment personnel to be assigned as permanent duty individuals.

The other significant events of its history, since formation, are described in the Dateline Section below.

1st Cavalry Horse Detachment
DateLine


1970
1st Lt. Dack convinced the commander of the 1st Armored Division, MG Desobry. to allow a horse mounted color guard. The III Corps Commander, LTG B. E. Powell, and the Army Vice Chief, LTG Palmer agreed to allow the unit as a no cost recruiting tool for the 1st Armored Division.

1971
The 1st Armored Division is redesignated the 1st Cavalry Division. The 1st Cavalry Division Association was solicited for money, equipment and sponsorship. (May)

1971
The 1st Cavalry Division Association voted to sponsor the formation of a horse platoon with the III Corps Commander's approval. (August)

1971
The first of ten horses was procured as a transfer of government property from the Army Pentathion Team at San Antonio, Texas. Eight troopers were assigned from within the Division. (December)

1972
The Horse Platoon was officially established as a Unit-Of-Choice recruiting tool sponsored by The 1st Cavalry Division Association. The Unit received $2,000 of unqualified denotations from the 1st Cavalry Division Association and $2,500 from the Killeen Chamber of Commerce for the purchase of show saddles, Weapons and bridles. One eight-horse trailer was denoted and rebuilt. Feed was purchased by the troopers at a cost of about $15 to $25 a month. This continued until the Hunt and Saddle Club began to purchase feed from the platoon to help off-set the cost. Uniforms were first purchased by the troopers from whatever sources were available. (January)

1972
The first show, a parade, was performed in San Angelo, Texas. Although it was only a parade, this laid the foundation for public appearances. (April)

1972
Throughout the year, donations were received which enabled the purchase of eight additional horses. Units of the 1st Cavalry Division Association donated money to purchase horses in that unit's name. (December)

1973
The first two mules and an M1879 Escort Wagon was denoted.

1974
The first mounted cavalry demonstration was conducted using six riders and mounts.

1975
The M1878 Escort Wagon was added to the demonstrations, using a two mule team. Prior to this event, the wagon was only used for parades.

1976
The first mounted cavalry demonstration using eight riders and Mounts. Two of the box trailers were declared unsafe. Trailers had to be borrowed for the transportation of the horses to and from the shows.

1976
The horse Platoon was recognized by FORSCOM when the III Corps Commander accepted responsibility for the Unit and approved an unconditional denotation of equipment from the 1st Cavalry Division Association to III Corps. All operating costs are now paid by the installation. (December)

1980
The 1st Cavalry Hortse Platoon is recognized as a Special Ceremonial Unit (SCU) by the department of the Army, UP AR 310-34. The Department of the Army allows government expense travel to be paid from discretionary funds. From now until 1987, denotations an purchases are the source of all horses and equipment. (May)

1981
The first requirement budget is established and funding is provided as if the Horse Platoon were an installation Unit.

1982
Two twelve horse trailers are purchased at a cost of $19,000 each.

1983
Soldiers are now assigned to the Horse Platoon full time and permanent spaces are provided from within the 1st Cavalry Division. A tack van is procured from the Property Book Office (PBO). (April)

1984
The civilian position of Equestrain Training Instructor and Stable Master is established for the Horse Platoon. This position was first held by LTC Thomas B. Larkin (Ret)

1985
All tack, up to this point of time, has been unconditionally denoted. Purchase of equipment is now allowed.

1986
The first independent Horse Platoon Command Operating Budget is approved by the Installation Commander, LTG Saint, to be funded through III Corps G3/PTM. Two additional mules were added to bring the total to four. The first mounted cavalry demonstration using eleven riders and mounts and a four mule team to pull the M1878 Escort Wagon was conducted.

1986
The Horse Platoon was redesignated as the Horse Cavalry Detachment (HCD) to better conform to historical precedent. (December)

1987
Changing tax laws no longer allowed for total deducted denotations of the market value of the animals. While the animals are still occasionally denoted, government purchase now becomes a major source of acquisition. A second wagon was built by the detachment to the original 1878 specifications.

1989
MG Streeter, 1st cavalry Division Commander, authorizes the Horse Cavalry Detachment to maintain animal strength of 44 horses and 8 mules. An M1841 Light Mountain Howitzer is procured and fired by the U.S. Cavalry for the first time in over 100 years. The first mounted cavalry demonstrations, using 15 riders and mounts was conducted. However this was an exception, the demonstration strength was soon cut back to thr today's standard of 11 riders and mounts.

1990
The Horse Cavalry Detachment troop strength authorization is increased to 1 officer and 32 enlisted Men with the addition of a cannoneer positions.

1991
One four-horse trailer is purchased for emergency situations.

1991
On 05 June, SGT Bucky, the last of the donated horses was put to rest. SGT Bucky, serving since 1973, had been purchased with funds provided by the 8th Engineers. (June)

1992
A one-ton dual wheel pick-up truck was purchased by TMP to pull the Escort Wagon trailer.

1993
The Farrier Shop was constructed by the 62nd Engineer Battalion

1995
Horse Cavalry Detachment troopers are no longer assigned as special duty (SD) status. The 1st Cavalry Division REG 611-200 authorized Horse Cavalry Detachment to be assigned as permanent duty individuals. (September)

1995
A new training area was constructed by The Horse Cavalry Detachment personnel. (August)

1995
On 06 December, Ulyses S. 'Grant", the first miniature mule to serve in the 1st Cavalry Horse Detachment was laid to rest. He was donated in 1989 by Master Troiy Allen of South Dakota. (December)

1996
The Horse Cavalry Detachment participated in the Pasadena, California Tournament of Roses Parade. (January)



Copyright © 1996, Cavalry Outpost Publications ® and Trooper Wm. H. Boudreau, "F" Troop, 8th Cavalry Regiment (1946 - 1947). All rights to this body of work are reserved and are not in the public domain, unless as noted in the bibliography. Reproduction, or transfer by electronic means, of the History of the Horse Cavalry Detachment, 1st Cavalry Division or any internal element, is not permitted without prior authorization. Readers are encouraged to link to any of the pages of this Web site, provided that proper acknowledgment attributing to the source of the data is made. Other references to computer manufacturers or products use trademarks owned by their respective manufacturers. The technical information contained herein is subject to change without notice.

Revised 19 Aug '04