Volunteer riders give glimpse of historic regiments
THE NZ Mounted Rifles was set up as a charitable trust in 2015 following the ‘‘100 Years 100 Horses’’ event in North Canterbury.
They have carried out many engagements over the past three years, raising over $30,000 to aid the sufferers of posttraumatic stress disorder and injury in the current military.
The troop comprises about 25 riders, all volunteers, who give their time to help recreate a visual representation of the Mounted Rifles regiments of 100 years ago.
When they attend events like Alexandra’s, they encourage local riders to ride with them and they get a glimpse into the effort needed to make a military mounted unit.
Their training is done in a military style and is quite intensive.
Everyone that attends and rides with them will end up with a better horse and personal skills learned from the exercises taught.
The pony club was set up after the First World War to teach youngsters the skills necessary to enter into the Mounted Rifles and cavalry units of the British Empire, hence a lot of their games are cavalryoriented.
The ride in Alexandra will commemorate the Otago Mounted Rifles and their dedication to the war effort, serving in Gallipoli and on the Western Front.
On Friday, the NZ Mounted Rifles will visit:
Dunstan High School, from 9.30am
The Terrace School, from 10.30am St Gerard’s School, from 11.30am Alexandra Primary School, from 1.30pm Clyde School, from 2.30pm
On Saturday, the NZ Mounted Rifles will visit: King George V Memorial Park, Roxburgh, at 9am
Castlewood Nursing Home, from 10.30am Ranui Court Retirement Village, from 11.30am