1st century Auxiliary cavalry

[scotti73]

With the abundance of 1st century groups in the UK, I was wondering if any group had ever worked on recreating a 1st century cavalry unit.

[jvrjenivs]

Comitatus does some Cavalry sports impressions. They are a bit later as first century though. I also think LEG II AVG has a first century cavalrymans kit around.

Of course you the Troop, e.g. the riders associated with the Ermine street guard (ESG) who do a first century impression. More I don't know at the moment, unless you take some loose impression into account as well.

On the mainland Europe it's something more. Apart from my own ALA I BATAVORUM, you've the LEG X EQ from Belgium, Timetrotter (Germany), Cesar Pocina Lopez from Spain, and I've seen some more I don't know the name of, all doing first century cavalryman.

[John Conyard]

I suppose it depends on how many cavalrymen can be called a unit. Comitatus can probably field more riders than most groups combined, but we don't often do the early Imperial period. http://comitatus.net/cavalry.html

[scotti73]

John, i love the Comitatus cavalry, they are spectacular. I would love to see a first century group though. It would look incredible to see all the aspects of the Flavian army on the same field of battle. I'm attempting to return to 1st century reenactment after a break of some 18 years or so. Things have changed and mostly for the better. Just got to find a group..........

[jvrjenivs]

John, i love the Comitatus cavalry, they are spectacular. I would love to see a first century group though. It would look incredible to see all the aspects of the Flavian army on the same field of battle. I'm attempting to return to 1st century reenactment after a break of some 18 years or so. Things have changed and mostly for the better. Just got to find a group..........

Well, get in contact with the ESG then. I don't know if their riders are directly associated with the ESG or not, but they do have Flavian impressions. Bugger you're not in the Netherlands, as I might have had the group you're looking for, as we can field 6 1st century cavalryman at the moment

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

The riders for the ESG are hired by EH, I think.
But it would be cool to have a group of 1st Cent riders!
Something to aspire to.

[Crispvs]

The man to talk to would be Alan Larson. He is the leading light in 'The Troop', which provide the first century cavalry for (mainly) ESG displays. They also depict a number of other periods as well and I have also seen them in the guises of late Roman cavalry, 1870s 17th/21st Lancers and British cavalry of the Great War. I have lost Alan's telephone number unfortunately but you could get in touch with him through EH I would have thought.

Steve Rogers (AKA Fronto) is also building up a third century AD cavalry unit. They put up three riders at the Chester festival and I know that he is getting the equipment together for further fully equipped cavalrymen. I know it is not 1st century but he can be contacted via Skirmish magazine if you were at all interested.


Crispvs

[John Conyard]

The hired riders for the ESG practise at the Comitatus yard, and I'm sure the horse supplier would be willing to put you up on a horse to have a go. Together we can mount 13 riders, without a pad saddle in sight!

I would imagine Steve would snap you up if you can sit on a horse, the Chester riders were his horse supplier Claire, her fiancee and an ex Comitatus chap desperate to ride in shows. Plus Steve of course. :-)

[Statius]

I had a chat with Steve (Fronto) and his guys at the Chester festival, they were billited quite near us. Really approachable and enthusiastic about what they were doing. They did a sterling job throughout the weekend and I'm sure would welcome anyone interested although as already noted they are doing 3rd Century.

[PhilusEstilius]

Steve Rogers third century may have to do with all of the Straubing Chamfrons I made for him some time ago, they are the ones that he loaned to John Conyard and I was impressed for it was the first time I saw them on horses.

[Paul Elliott]

The calibre of the newest riders they have is impressive, I don't know where they learned some of the riding techniques, but it blows away what I've seen so far of Roman horseriding. And I concur about the chamfrons, now the group has all of its cavalry kit back again, it seriously looks the part. It does need a good start and some good venues. Can you have too many Roman cavalry troops?

On the literature the group is called 'Romanorum'

[John Conyard]

I agree Paul, I am busy helping outfit three new cavalry groups as the moment. But let me invite you to see the new Comitatus cavalry show with our new horses. I have put on a few shows over the years and ridden most horses used for Roman shows in the UK. I can be an objective judge and say we are doing the best shows we have ever done. It is brilliant.

I appreciate we have to be delicate but let us not “beat about the bush”. The new cavalry group were set up by Claire to keep Roman riding alive at her yard when Comitatus left for a rival establishment down the road. Steve took his two chamfrons with him to work with Claire when I told him we could no longer let him ride in public shows. It is a positive thing and I welcome it. It will help keep the yard going and give our old horses and ponies employment. It also allows riders who could not find an opening in Comitatus the chance to ride in public. Comitatus has provided a lot of soft kit and belts for them. Top quality armour and helmets will come in time.

I do understand that you can learn more about riding, Roman kit and equipment in a sand school but some really do have a desire to ride in public. We are supporting various groups at the moment and one way or another seem worth emulating.

[Paul Elliott]

The hired riders for the ESG practise at the Comitatus yard, together we can mount 13 riders, without a pad saddle in sight!

That's impressive! Hopefully one day you can field that number in a show. I guess the limiting factor is sets of equipment and/or availability of horses.

[John Conyard]

Well, once upon a time Roman saddles where rare. Now there are lots of them, and we have even more horses. The limiting factor will always be the client and how many horses they can afford.

[Vindex]

Another limiting factor is people being able to ride well enough in the first place! Looking the part is one thing, riding the part is a different ball game.

And I will say again, a horse's back teeth are NOT the brake! Even worse if there is no martigale to stop the head and neck movement getting too high authentic or not!

It's great that there are so many people wanting to do cavalry impressions but it has to start with capable, sympathetic riding of the horse.