Leadership from horsemanship: Cavalry Troop keeps legacy alive, page one: Norwich University emagazine

Leadership from horsemanship:

Cavalry Troop keeps legacy alive

by David Santos, staff

photos by Jay Ericson

At first glance, the peaceful setting of Breckenridge Farm is an unlikely spot for a leadership laboratory serving the nation’s oldest private military college.

The 20-acre horse farm in Plainfield, Vt., is training ground for the Norwich University Cavalry Troop, where members of the Corps of Cadets carry on a 100-year tradition of horsemanship. It’s a pursuit that fosters the skills of riding and caring for animals. But cadets also learn about themselves and the intricacies of leading others.

“You have to be the leader of the horse,” said Bonnie Jo Lange, a third-year cadet and the cavalry’s barn sergeant. “As I get more confident with the horses, they sense that.” continue