Soldiers of the 10th Świętokrzyska Territorial Defence Brigade began equestrian training. Classes for future instructors took place in Brzezinki and Świętmarz on 15-19 and 26-28 July. 12 territorialists participated in the fresh form of training.
The Świętokrzyskie Tersiels began equestrian training. The basics of riding, field riding and transportation of equipment - are the main elements of equestrian training that soldiers have done. The aim of the full training cycle is to identify and prepare future instructors who will be conducting classes in non-statutory horse sections in sub-divisions 10 of WBOT. 10 soldiers participated in the training, which took place on 26-28 July in the Świętmarz, who already had equestrian experience in the "civil" camp. On the another hand, the classes were conducted by 2 experienced instructors from the 2nd Lublin Territorial Defence Brigade. The training was organized utilizing private horse stud.
The equestrian training, as part of the building of additional capacity to transport people, equipment, arms and military equipment utilizing horses, consisted of 2 parts – theoretical and practical. During the lectures, soldiers learned about horse riding theory, individual rider equipment and equestrian equipment, as well as basic veterinary care. applicable topics of the course included: improving the basics of riding, improving horse riding in the field, performing basic tactical tasks utilizing horses (watching, patrolling). The first specified classes took place on 15-19 July in Brzezinki, it was an adaptation training and levelling level of participants. The next ones are planned for August and September. specified a training cycle will let the preparation of the staff, which in October will conduct classes from scratch for soldiers without equestrian experience.
In our brigade, it is planned to make untimely horse sections. The main tasks of the horse section will include, among others, conducting reconnaissance activities, patrolling the site, mainly in a hard area, participation in emergency actions (e.g. search operations) and owing, i.e. the usage of horses for the transport of arms, equipment and military equipment,” said Colonel Sławomir Machniewicz, commander of 10 ŚBOT.
10 The Territorial Defence Brigade Świętokrzyska uses the experience of 2 LBOT, which was the first to carry out a pilot program for the usage of horses for the transport of arms and military equipment. The horses were first utilized in the autumn of 2021 to safe border areas with Belarus, as part of Operation Strong Support. Horse patrols then worked perfectly on difficult, wet areas on the Bug River. The usage of horses was decided, among others, by the anticipation of transporting additional equipment, fast and silent movement in hard terrain, a large scope of operations, depth of reflection and fast consequence to the threat.
Text: Lt Daniel Woś/ 10 WBOT
