Press Release
☷Blackhorse mounted Troopers uphold tradition at Regional Cavalry Competition
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Apr 29,2022
| 64| 1
Elements of Horse Detachment , Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment , ride in a formation across the Fort Concho Parade Ground , Fort Concho , San Angelo , Texas , on April 19 , 2022 . Formation riding is performed to warm up and maintain discipline . Pfc . Bryan Stapleton , Horse Detachment , Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment , rides Fritz in the Military Horsemanship competition during the Regional Cavalry Competition at Fort Concho , San Angelo , Texas , on April 21 , 2022 . The event tests the rider’s skill at military equitation as prescribed by U . S . Cavalry training manuals from the 1900s . Spc . Juan Renteria , Horse Detachment , Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment , rides Tank as he jumps over a hurdle on the Fort Concho Parade Field , Fort Concho , San Angelo , Texas , on April 21 , 2022 . Jumping greatly contributes to mobility , one of the cavalry ' s greatest strengths . Staff Sgt . Juan Lopzes , Horse Detachment , Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment , swings his saber at a target as Commanche jumps over a hurdle on the Fort Concho Parade Field , Fort Concho , San Angelo , Texas , on April 22 , 2022 . The saber competition assessed Troopers’ proficiency in engaging close - range targets while moving at speed . Cpl . Clarissa Falmad , Horse Detachment , Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment , riding Chief , fires her pistol at a balloon target on the Fort Concho Parade Field , Fort Concho , San Angelo , Texas , on April 22 , 2022 . The pistol competition tested Troopers’ accuracy with their pistol while negotiating obstacles and jumps . Horse Detachment , Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop , 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ( 11th ACR ) , brought 11 riders and 3 ground crew to the Regional Cavalry Competition , held by the United States Cavalry Association and hosted at Fort Concho , Texas , from April 20 to 24 , 2022 . This competition is one of few chances to receive outside feedback on performance prior to the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno , Oklahoma , in September . The train - up will enable the necessary experience to bring the General Casimir Pulaski trophy back to Fort Irwin for a fourth straight year . The Regional Cavalry Competition consists of three levels of five events across the first two days , and unit demonstrations and a championship cup on the third day . Levels loosely correlate to one as intermediate , two as advanced , and three as expert . Horse Detachment won a total of 22 ribbons across all levels of competitions , and every rider from the team won at least one ribbon . “There are a couple of civilian riders who typically dominate individual level 3 awards . We actually tied with them overall which is a testament to our training progression , ” noted Sergeant 1st Class Christopher Stemple , Horse Detachment noncommissioned officer in charge . The first day of competitions , April 21 , was devoted to the Military Horsemanship and Jumping Competitions . Military horsemanship tests the rider’s skill at military equitation as prescribed by U . S . Cavalry training manuals from the 1900s . Captain Michael Gates , Horse Detachment officer in charge , won 2nd place at level one . Staff Sergeants Nathan Perkins and Jacob Wilson won 2nd and 3rd place at level two . The jumping competition stresses the horse’s trust in their rider . At level one , Private 1st Class Bryan Stapleton won 1st place , Specialist Juan Renteria won 2nd , and Spc . Jakovan Sexton won 3rd . Staff Sgt . Juan Lopez won 1st place at level two , and Spc . Bryan Mosqueda won 3rd place at level 3 . The Pistol , Combat Horsemanship , and Saber Competitions were on the second day , April 22 . The pistol competition tested Troopers’ accuracy with their pistol while negotiating obstacles and jumps . At level 1 , Spc . Juan Renteria won 1st place and Corporal Clarissa Falmad won 3rd . Staff Sgt . Perkins won 1st place while Sgt . 1st Class Stemple won 2nd place at level two . Sergeant John Wenger won 1st place and Spc . Mosqueda won 3rd place at level three . Combat horsemanship tests the Trooper’s proficiency with their assigned weapons , the pistol , saber , and rifle , while mounted . Spc . Renteria won 2nd place at level one , Sgt . 1st Class Stemple won 1st place at level two , and Spc . Mosqueda won 1st place at level three . The saber competition assessed Troopers’ proficiency in engaging close range targets while moving at speed . Pfc . Stapleton won 3rd place at level one . Staff Sgt . Lopez won 1st place and Sgt . 1st Class Stemple won 3rd place at level two . Sgt . Wenger won 1st place and Spc . Mosqueda won 3rd place at level three . The third day of the Regional Cavalry Competition coincided with Frontier Day , a celebration of the area’s past . After enjoying freshly made pancakes , attendees visited historic exhibits and watched cavalry demonstrations , which included one by the Horse Detachment and a reenactment of the famous “Last Charge” led by Major Robert L . Howze , Provisional Squadron , 11th Cavalry Regiment , near Ojos Azules , Mexico , on May 5th , 1916 , with other competitors . Four 11th ACR Troopers were invited to participate in the Hessey Championship Cup that afternoon . Sgt . 1st Class Stemple , Staff Sgt . Perkins , Sgt . Wenger , and Spc . Mosqueda joined six other competitors to determine the best cavalryman in attendance . “Our biggest surprise at [the Regional Cavalry Competition] was the increased participation from more military teams . We were happy to see more presence than last year and look forward to even more competitors at [the National Cavalry Competition] , said Sgt . 1st Class Stemple . Other active duty Army units that participated included the Mounted Color Guard , 4th Infantry Division , from Fort Carson , Colorado; B Troop , 4th Cavalry Regiment ( Memorial ) , from Fort Huachuca , Arizona; and the Horse Cavalry Detachment , 1st Cavalry Division , from Fort Hood , Texas . The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment Horse Detachment was granted the status of Special Ceremonial Unit in 2002 to aid the recruiting effort , maintain and improve community relations , and participate in military and civilian events . Positions in the detachment are open to any Trooper in the 11th ACR , making the element a diverse one with many skills , Military Occupational Specialties , and backgrounds . Horse - mounted Troopers defined the 11th Cavalry for decades after its creation in 1901 , and the Horse Detachment’s purpose is to “keep tradition alive” today , long after the U . S . Army has , for the most part , turned away from flesh and blood mounts . Troopers are usually assigned to Horse Detachment for only 12 to 18 months to learn how to properly care for the horses , become expert riders , and represent the 11th ACR in a unique way . “Being on this team has really opened my eyes to realize how important these competitions are as well as this Cav[alry] unit is to some people who have gotten out of the military and/or retired , ” said Spc . Mosqueda , who attended last year’s Regional Cavalry Competition brand new to the team and is now confident enough to ride at level three . “I realized this is something I was meant to do and something I will continue to do and carry on after I get out . . . so long as I can still get up on that saddle . ” The 11th ACR Horse Detachment will travel to Fort Reno , Oklahoma , to compete in the National Cavalry Competition from September 21st through the 24th . For additional details and a timeline of events for the National Cavalry Competition , please visit: https://uscavalryassociation . org/events/
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information:
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
