Spc. James Cantwell, Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, clears an obstacle during the level 3 military field jumping event at the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno, Okla., Sept. 20-25, 2016. Cantwell earned a third-place ribbon in the competition’s elite-level Bolte Cup event, which challenged competitors in multiple disciplines for a combined score. (Photo courtesy Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard)
By Scott Prater
Mountaineer staff
Roughly six months ago, Spc. Brandon Robinson worried that he had failed his first test after falling off his horse during a trial ride for the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard. Much to his surprise, however, he wound up passing that tryout.
And, he’s come a long way since then.
Sgt. Mitchel Porter, left, and Sgt. Chad Braithwaite, both Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard members, drive through an obstacle course set up to test their mule team skills at the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno, Okla., Sept. 20-25, 2016. Porter and Braithwaite took first place in the event, officially titled the wheeled competition. (Photo courtesy Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard)
Along with fellow members of the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, Robinson competed in the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, Sept. 20-25, 2016, where he came home with a pair of second-place ribbons.
His transformation from novice to skilled cavalryman is a testament to the training provided by his fellow mounted color guard riders who, by the way, also performed well at the competition. All told, the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard garnered 12 ribbons from the national competition, an event hosted each year by the U.S. Cavalry Association.
“I had barely even ridden before trying out,” Robinson said. “But, I really wanted to do this, and figured there was no harm in trying.”
“The amount of experience a rider has coming to the program isn’t that important,” said Sgt. 1st Class James Metts, Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard detachment sergeant. “What we’re looking for is someone who is trainable, who can take direction.”
Metts explained that Army experience is a more important asset for candidates who try out for the team. The color guard prefers Soldiers to have at least 18 months of time in their current military occupational specialty before attempting to qualify for team training.
“This is a totally different assignment,” he said. “And, military riding is different from any other discipline of riding. We jump horses. We shoot off of horses. We use sabers and we perform military and combat horsemanship, which is similar to riding through an obstacle course while using weapons.”
Sgt. Brian Vogt can identify with Robinson. He, too, had limited horse riding experience before trying out for the color guard a little more than a year ago. His performance at the National Cavalry Competition belied his relative newcomer status, however, as he took first place in the competition’s level 1 horsemanship event.
Pfc. Courtney Delong, Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, rides through an obstacle during the level 2 mounted saber event at the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno, Okla., Sept. 20-25, 2016. (Photo courtesy Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard)
In all, the Fort Carson riders competed in seven events, including horsemanship, mounted pistol, mounted saber, field jumping, combat horsemanship and a timed team ride and mule team obstacle course.
Sgt. Mitchel Porter and Sgt. Chad Braithwaite claimed first place in the mule team obstacle course, officially termed the “wheeled competition,” while Sgt. Nolan Mynatt took first in the level 2 combat horsemanship event and Sgt. James Cantwell claimed third place in the competition’s elite-level, combined-discipline event.
Of course, cavalry competition is just a segment of the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard’s mission.
The group supports at countless ceremonies, both on and off post, and can send two teams to different events on the same day.
“We (support) at retirement and change-of-command events, brigade level and above, and some stand-alone battalions,” Metts said. “Off post, we do Veterans Day ceremonies, we lead parades, we perform at rodeos and we also do cavalry skill drills for formations and movements.”
The guard’s uniforms are made of wool and are designed in the U.S. Army cavalry style of the late 1800s.
The color guard typically use four horses and riders for change of command ceremonies, but can use as many as six.
“We do a lot of traveling,” Metts said. “We go up to the Cheyenne Frontier Days (in Wyoming), for example, in the summer. We cover most of Colorado and we have been to Texas and Oklahoma for competitions.”
The guard’s horses also require training, especially those used for the pistol, jumping and saber events, and most are either donated to or purchased by the group for use in ceremonies and competitions.
According to Metts, while performing in public, the group sometimes meets people who question their uniform authenticity.
“We have to explain to them that we are not re-enactors,” he said. “Many folks are surprised to learn that our uniforms are period-correct uniforms and that we are all active-duty Soldiers.”
Originally authorized 13 members, the color guard expanded in January and is now authorized 21 members. Metts is currently searching for four new members to fill the roster and cover future attrition.
Soldiers who are interested in joining the ranks should understand that it is a two- to three-year assignment and can contact Metts to arrange for a tryout.
“Candidates will ride two separate horses during the tryout, one with stirrups and one without,” Metts said. “They’ll ride set patterns and then interview with me and our 4th Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion sergeant major.”