OUR Training: |
Among us are several horseriding instructors practising
various equestrian disciplines and who provide us with continuous training. By taking charge of the horses in an appropriate manner, we instil them with confidence in their rider in such a way as to accustom them to a situation which may otherwise appear as hostile to them.(cannon-shots, drums, fusillades, duels, paraded among the public) |
Our horses: In Belgium, they come from various maneges. Abroad we receive the horses from the organiser. Although they are sometimes not used to these kind of exercises, our acquired experience helps us face all situations. We do not limit our activity to the parade but we re-enact all manoeuvres of the time (Training, fighting with sabre, charges: "sabre au clair"(meaning: in the light), running at the heads, etc.)
"Running at the heads" was
an exercise regularly
practised in the cavalry. It obliges the rider to lead his horse with one hand
in the gallop. He needs to keep his balance when lowering the sword. A most
delicate matter is not to strike the croup of the horse with the sword when he
misses the cabbage! This exercise is rather more spectacular than difficult.
Click on the image to
replace the cabbage with the head of an Englishman or a Prussian!
OH
NO ! Surely
you don't believe that we would strike our
enemy friends! Our re-enactments are done in friendship between all those taking
part in the reconstitution.
English people are our preferred enemies. We
like to fight together as during our oldest battle at Waterloo on 18th
June 1815. But unlike some sports where supporters are (sometimes fiercely)
opposed, it’s always a pleasure to meet them on friendly
terms at a re-enactment to
share the same passion of history.
We’re demonstrating a Europe of conflicts!
but we’re making a Europe of friendship.
SABRER : AN
OLD CAVALRY TRADITION
The expression 'Sabrer le champagne' ('to sabre the champagne')
means to cut off the neck of the bottle with a sabre: the bottle (armed with
its cork) is tilted at a 30° angle while the back of the blade is slid violently
towards the neck, which bursts open. The pressure of the gas inside the champagne
prevents fragments of glass from entering the bottle. This tradition is still
practised on special occasions by those who claim to be part of the military
cavalry. The easy way is to hold the bottle, with one's thumb well out of the
way of the blade!
Important and
information when the predictable happens: Get hold of
the dog (or the cat) of the house before it has the chance to swallow the severed
thumb hurtling through the room. Search carefully for the thumb, taking care
not to tread on it, pick it up and wrap it in a clean plastic bag. Pack the
plastic bag in ice cubes (if necessary, take those which were to be used for
the aperitif). Make sure that the thumb does not get into contact with the ice
cubes. Escort the imbecile and his thumb to the hospital with a good hand surgeon
on its register (Emergency first aid number in Belgium: 100). Warn the surgeon.
Invite the
2nd Rgt of Dragoons to come and do a proper demonstration,
and ensure that there is plenty of champagne!
And another activity :
Use of Military Cavalry at night
(Gérard,
webmaster)
If reading a large number of books on the "first empire" provides a good understanding of history, nothing can compare to experiencing first hand the reason for the successes and failures by re-enacting them on the same fields and in the same manner as did the soldier of the period.
This is how in May of 1999 at the re-enactment of the
Campagne of France (1814) we the French forces were compelled to make a counter
attack against a German force King
German Legion. at night. >>> TO READ
on page 5 at Use
of Military Cavalry at night
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