Fort Concho to Host Cavalry Competition

Nourishing rains will ensure an even greener Fort Concho Parade Ground for the 20 riders from across Texas and the Southwest taking part in the Regional Cavalry Competition this week.

The event kicks off Wednesday with preliminary classroom instruction and riding classes. The main competitive events start Thursday and continue through Saturday. All activity will take place in a specially fenced arena at the east end of the fort’s Parade Ground in front of Barracks 5 & 6. Fort Concho is located at 630 S. Oakes St.

There will be no charge to watch the events, although donations will be gratefully accepted at the fort's Visitor Center at Barracks 1. Guests may park in the South Oakes lot and walk into the fort or in the lots at Flipper and Burgess streets.

Events will occur rain or shine, but the schedule may be changed by poor weather. The military horsemanship competition will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday. Later in the day, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., riders will compete in pistol and jumping. On Friday, combat horsemanship takes place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the saber contest from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

A Pass In Review, with all competitors in their best uniforms, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by unit drills. The Championship Cup Competition starts at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Each day, all fort buildings will be open. There will also be several living history camps at the east end of the Parade Ground.

The competition is co-sponsored by Fort Concho and the United States Cavalry Association, founded in 1976 to preserve the heritage of the mounted cavalry in the nation’s military. One of the event organizers and award-winning rider Ron Perry noted this was the first attempt to “create a regional event, making a new tradition for the association.”

For more information, call Fort Concho at 325-481-2646 or visit fortconcho.com.