Governor's Horse Guards seeking new members

AVON — The First Company Governor’s Horse Guards unit is looking for a few good men — and women — to join its new class that begins in March.

A recruitment effort is currently under way, and interested persons have until March 11 to apply. Classes run until August.

“Enlisting in the First Company Governor’s Horse Guards is a great way to volunteer your service to the state of Connecticut as a member of a time-honored, living part of Connecticut history that continues to have a modern mission and purpose,” Major Commandant Michael Downes said. “Recruits do not need any prior military or horseback riding experience; we will train.”

That is a common misperception about joining the Guards, said Frank Judice of Granby, who graduated with the Class of 2009.

“I moved to the Valley in the mid-1970s and I often drove by thinking I might like to join, but thought I would probably need to be a horseman,” he said. “That’s not true. When you get there, they give you a good foundation and progress you through at a slow pace so you get comfortable. There’s great attention to detail.”

Some of the things they teach, besides riding, are horse grooming and safety, said Judice. He said that he started horseback riding a few years ago, prior to joining the Guards, after his daughter got into it. Candidates learn military drill and ceremony and close formation riding right out of the horse mounted U.S. Cavalry manuals, Downes said.

One way in which they differ from the military is that officers are elected, he said, noting that it used to be done that way by the military years ago.

Downes said that they generally accept no more than a dozen per class from all applicants, who must be in reasonably good health to work with large animals, and must be between the ages of 18 and 55.

“Succesful candidates will need to be able to attend our weekly Thursday night drills as well as recruit training classes on Sundays for the duration of the recruitment period, as well as one week per year of annual training exercises in August,” he said.

The time commitment involved cannot be under-estimated, Judice said. “You have to be able to balance it with your personal life,” he said. “If one has any doubts, it’s well worth thinking it through.”

The troop brings together people from numerous different careers and backgrounds to the cavalry tradition.

The First Company Governor’s Horse Guards is the oldest continuously active mounted cavalry unit in the entire United States, first chartered by the Connecticut General Assembly in 1788.

Formed originally as an armed mounted escort for the governor and members of the General Assembly, the Horse Guards have been part of the organized state militia under the Connecticut National Guard since 1911.

While there are peaks and valleys in their ceremonial duties, the unit is busiest in good weather when they are asked to participate in parades and other events, he said.

The troop’s next personal appearance will be to provide a mounted color guard for the Winter Special Olympics, being held on the CL&P property, Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, on Saturday, Feb. 27.

“While many duties of the Horse Guards are ceremonial (we attend many parades, provide escort to the governor, and perform various color guard and honor guard details around the state), we are also at the call of the governor and the adjutant general in times of emergency,” Downes said. “One of those missions is search and rescue.”

First Company is also affiliated with the Capitol Region Medical Reserve Corps and several times a year, sponsors programs that support veterans, children of deployed Connecticut soldiers and their families, Downes said.

Men and women interested in becoming members of the troop should call (860) 673-3525 or stop in any Thursday night between 7 and 11 p.m. at the Horse Guards, 280 Arch Road, Avon. When calling, ask for the officer in charge of recruiting, Lt. Tara Downes, who is also available by e-mail at taradownes@rocketmail.com.

Interested persons may download, print, and fill out an application on the Guards’ Web site, www.govhorseguards.org.

Barbara Thomas can be reached by e-mail at bthomas@foothillsmedia group.com.