| The carbine is a Sharps .54 Cal, and yes I do shoot it and 3
Remington .44 cal pistols off "Little John's"
back. Sharps were originally Yankee issue, though several Confederate Arsenals did make them
later. It takes about 3 years to train a war horse to tolerate shooting, sabre fighting, cannon firing at
close range, massive troop movements, close order drill, etc. Horses are prey species and so their
natural inclination is to run away from danger as fast as they can. It takes a lot of patience and wet
blankets to break them of that fear. This is "Little John's" second season and he is doing quite well. I
retired my old mare in 1999, she got so she loved battles. She would stay in her spot on picket line
without being tied, if she wanted a drink, she would go to water trough, come back to her spot and
stay there all night. She is "smarter than any horse needs to be." |
