The RMC Riding Establishment 1910 to 1940

Prepared by G1628 Tanya Grodzinski, Chair, Cultural Evolution

Until 1940, equitation was a skill required by all officers and many non-commissioned personnel of the Canadian Militia, and as a result, for over thirty years, RMC provided its students with practical instruction in riding.[1] At first, the College lacked an authorised allotment of personnel and horses to provide this training. As the number of junior officers trained at RMC increased, the reports of the Militia Council complained of the lack of qualified riding staff, facilities such as a stable, hayloft, and indoor riding facility, and a sufficient number of horses,[2] and recommended the creation of a permanent riding establishment, which was actioned finally in 1910.

The squadron[3] of The Royal Canadian Dragoons, a permanent force cavalry regiment based in Toronto, provided the personnel for the RMC Riding Establishment and on occasion, Cadets received additional instruction in Toronto. The establishment included one major, one sergeant, a corporal, a lance-corporal and 17 privates, for a total of 21 personnel, and 20 horses. In 1912, Lieutenant William Rhoades, RCD, became the first ‘Rough Rider’ appointed to the College.

By 1911, the College had 20 horses, two short of its establishment of 22, yet still insufficient in number, as it was necessary to conduct two rides to complete a single lesson of instruction for one class. The lack of an indoor riding facility, or covered riding school, meant that weather conditions reduced the use of the ‘poor open menage,’ or ménage militaire, to 63 of the 144 rides in the past year.[4]

Nonetheless, cadets from all years continued with instruction in stable management and grooming. Recruits received four hours of instruction a week, the Second Class (third year cadets) four hours, and the Seniors (First Class) six hours of obligatory training, with additional rides on a voluntary basis. During the winter months, cadets continued with grooming and stable work as the frozen ground made it difficult to ride, although senior cadets underwent eight hours of riding per week while the Second Class had four hours. Despite these limitations, a 1911 reported stated ‘riding, horsemanship and jumping were all very good.’[5]

Another difficulty that arose was the disfavour many Dragoons held towards service in Kingston, a complaint that led in 1920 to a change in the arrangements for the riding school. The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, which had a brigade based in Fort Frontenac (from 1905 to 1939) replaced the Dragoon contingent, forming a separate establishment named the ‘RCHA Detachment Riding Establishment, RMC.’ Lieutenant-Colonel C.F. Constantine, RCHA, oversaw the new establishment, while Captain H.F. Bray,[6] another artillery officer, replaced Rhoades, now a lieutenant-colonel, and decorated war veteran, who on returning from service overseas, had served temporarily as Riding Master.[7]  Commandant Major-General Sir Archibald Macdonell noted in his report for 1920, that the transfer of the establishment to the RCHA was ‘working out satisfactory and well’ and that it was soon an ‘efficient’ organization.[8]

By June 1931, the riding establishment included one Warrant Officer as NCO in charge (i/c), and who, given their duties, resided on Point Frederick. Other personnel included one sergeant, two lance-sergeants, one Sergeant Rough Rider (whose task was to ‘break’ horses), one artillery clerk, one farrier, and 27 gunners, for a total of 34 personnel, and 20 horses. An officer ranked as captain or major served as the Officer Commanding the detachment alongside their other instructional duties. Other officers, including Imperial cavalry officers on exchange, also served as instructors, including one who held the appointment of ‘Lieutenant and Rough Rider.’[9]

Cavalry House, built in 1908, became the headquarters and quarters for the Riding Establishment and with the addition of Building R3, built in 1916 as an indoor riding facility, and R36, completed in 1930 as the stables and hayloft, the trio forming the RMC riding complex. All three buildings are now federal heritage buildings. The number of horses held varied between 20 and 70, and as their number increased during the 1930s, plans were made to expand the stables, but never actioned.

Aside from equitation, the syllabus included care of saddlery and tack, feeding and care of horses, sword and lance drill, troop and squadron drill, ceremonial, and mounted sports. Additional instruction was given to officers attending the Staff College Preparatory Course held at RMC, and to officers of the RCHA. See the annex below for a complete description of the syllabus as it stood in 1922.[10]

In June 1939, the composition of Riding Establishment had changed slightly and now had 32 personnel, plus three other attached personnel, along with 37 horses, or three under the authorized strength of 40. Quarter-Master Sergeant Instructor (Warrant Officer II) G.D. Gilpin, who joined the Permanent Force in 1919, was i/c. Of the soldiers, one was as cook, another a trumpeter and one held the rank of ‘Boy,’ for boy soldier, assigned to personnel between 14 and 18 years of age employed in a non-combatant role such as trumpeter, drummer or bugler in various corps, including the RCHA.[11] The three attached personnel filled positions within the administration department, and artillery department.[12]

The care of the horses’ health came from the Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, the headquarters of which was in Kingston alongside the non-permanent No. 2 Mobile Veterinary Section, and civilian veterinarians. In addition to its personnel, the monthly strength returns of the detachment listed the number of horses, including those lost or gained. In most cases, a letter followed by three numbers, such as ‘C304,’ identified each horse.

By 1940, riding was no longer deemed a necessary skill for officers, and later in the year, the RMC Riding Establishment was disbanded. The 17 remaining personnel, including Temporary Captain Charles Frederick Wolfe, RCA – who in 1930, was a Sergeant Major Instructor[13] (WO I) and i/c of the riding establishment and who was commissioned in September 1935 – were returned to duty with the RCA, while the horses were disposed of, thus ending the history of equitation at RMC.[14]

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Annex

Equitation, Horsemastership and Cavalry

RMC Regulations and Calendar, 1922 (pp. 19, 38, 56)

Syllabus, Practical

Fourth Class (first year cadets)

Use of sword and lance (dismounted). Cavalry drill (dismounted troop and squadron). Dummy horse exercises. Points and anatomy of a horse. Shoeing. Stable management – watering and feeding. Minor ailments. Veterinary notes. Saddle fitting and bitting. Seat, hands, balance and collection. Elementary riding.

Third Class (second year)

As for 4th Class. Theory of riding. Course of eight lessons as laid down in A.T. Vol. 1, Sec 46, pages 139-141. Long reign driving demonstration, Sword and lance, mounted and dismounted.

Second Class (third year)

As for 3rd Class. Mounted exercises including dummy-thrusting, sword, revolver, lance practice, tent pegging. Riding in open and across country.

First Class (fourth year)

As for 2nd Class.

In addition to the above there is given a thorough training in squadron and troop drill, including mounted tactical work in advanced guard operations, etc. Participation of volunteers in various events in gymkhanas[15] and competition in events for the Best-Man-at-Arms in accordance with the rules governing those laid down for the Royal Tournament[16] held annually at Olympia, London, England.

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Riding Establishment

Riding Master (vacant)

NCO Instructors, BSM Bilton, RCHA

Sergeant Betts, RCHA

RIDING COURSE

At the expiration of this course, a Cadet should have a thorough elementary knowledge of horsemanship, have a fair seat, be capable of completing according to the Royal Tournament Rules, in the use of sword, lance and mounted combat, he should be able to ride to hounds, negotiating any jumps in the show rings, and to show a horse successful under the saddle, or in harness, have sufficient experience in swinging a stick and following a ball, so as to become a good polo player, and be able to impart instructions to others on the following subjects:-

1. Points of the horse
2. Anatomy of the horse
3. Shoeing
4. Stable management
5. Minor ailments
6. Saddle Fitting
7. Seat
8. Hands
9. Balance and Collection
10. Harnessing (Artillery)
11. Flexions
12. The aids
13. Theory of riding
14. Course of 80 lessons
15. Hints to instructors
16. Methods of Instruction
17. Training the young horse
18. Curing bad habits
19. Miscellaneous notes
20. Sword manual and exercises
21. Lance manual and exercises

CAVALRY

In addition to the above ‘Riding Course,’ the Cadet is taught to be a good ‘Troop Leader’ and also how to drill a Cavalry Squadron, and before graduating from the College each Cadet is given a certain amount of practice in drilling a Cavalry Regiment.

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Note

The maximum marks allotted to the Practical Instruction (military training) for Equitation, Horsemanship, and Cavalry were as follows:

4th Class: 100

3rd Class: 150

2nd Class: 200

1st Class: 300

Total for the entire course: 750.

Throughout the entire four years of instruction, the total marks possible for the 11 subjects of the Practical Instruction, which was somewhat equivalent to the modern Military Pillar of ROTP, included, for example, infantry, artillery, military department, swimming, musketry, and conduct, was 7,225 points. The Theoretical Instruction (11 subject areas very roughly equivalent to the Academic and Bilingualism Pillars, with some instruction in science and history) totalled 29,300 points. Between 20 and 60 marks per month were allotted for ‘discipline,’ while holding a ‘bar’ appointment of Battalion Sergeant Major (the title for the Cadet Wing Commander between 1876 and 1923, and 1933 to 1942), Company Sergeant Major (company or platoon command), Company Quartermaster Sergeant, Sergeant (platoon sergeant or section commander) and Lance-Corporal.

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The Buildings of the Riding Establishment

Building R5: Cavalry House (Tanya Grodzinski)

Building R3: Riding School (Tanya Grodzinski)

R36: Stables and Hayloft (Tanya Grodzinski)

 

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[1] Until 1940 when the name ‘Canadian Army’ was adopted, the Permanent and Non-Permanent land forces were known as the Militia.

[2] Militia Council Report, 1903, 44.

[3] Until 1939, the RCD Regimental Headquarters and B Squadron were in Toronto, with A Squadron at Saint Jean.

[4] Proceedings of the Royal Military College Club of Canada, 1911, 280.

[5] Proceedings of the Royal Military College Club of Canada, 1911, 281.

[6] Macdonell gave high praise to Bray, who was ‘an accomplished horseman and a lover of animals, and is an ideal type of officer to instruct the Gentlemen Cadets in horsemanship and horse management.’ Department of Militia and Defence Annual Report, 1922, 89.

[7] Rhoads was the recipient of the DSO and the MC. In his report as Commandant of RMC in 1920, Major General Macdonell noted he had known Rhoades in France. Department of Militia and Defence 1920, 58.

[8] Department of Militia and Defence Report 1920, 59, 68.

[9] Establishment Riding Establishment, appended to file ‘RCHA Detachment-Riding Establishment RMC, Nominal Rolls 1931-1939, RMC Archive, Massey Library.

[10] Militia Council Report, 1932, 51; and 1936, 81.

[11] A ‘Boy’ was subordinate to Privates, and until they reached the age of majority, were not permitted to undertake any activities involving weaponry.

[12] RCHA Detachment-Riding Establishment RMC, Nominal Roll for the Period 30 June 1939, Nominal Rolls 1931-1939, RMC Archive, Massey Library.

[13] The title was assigned to a member of the Instructional Cadre, an establishment separate to unit establishments comprising WOs and NCOs from the Permanent Forces. For WO I, WO II and Sergeant, the titles were Sergeant Major Instructor, Quartermaster-Sergeant Instructor/Squadron Sergeant-Major Instructor, and Sergeant Instructor.

[14] RCHA Detachment-Riding Establishment RMC, Nominal Rolle for January 1930, Nominal Rolls 1931-1939, RMC Archive, Massey Library, The RMC Review, December 1939, n.p. Defence Forces List Canada, Part I, November 1939, 45, 100. Wolfe had been a WO for seven years before being commissioned. He was styled as a Riding Master.

[15] Competitive games conducted on horseback.

[16] The Royal Tournament was the world’s largest military tattoo and pageant held annually in London, England, between 1880 and 1999, and was primarily a competition between personnel from the British services. It included musical rides by the cavalry, musical drives by the artillery, cutlass and gun drill teams from the Royal Navy, and performances by military bands. Other displays in later years included the Royal Air Force Regiment, motorcycle teams from the Royal Signals and military police dog teams. Originally based at the Royal Agricultural Hall, by the early 1900s, it was located at the Olympia, an exhibition centre in West Kensington in London.