19th Century

Evidence of proposals to establish a cavalry unit at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) date to July 1845. In 1848, VMI Superintendent Francis H. Smith arranged with a patron to acquire 10 to 20 horses to be stabled at VMI to provide practical instruction in horse artillery drill.

The question of horse drawn artillery and cavalry drill was again discussed in the Superintendent's Annual Report in 1858. In this report Smith wrote, "it has been ascertained that the parents of at least thirty cadets...are willing to supply temporarily a horse for each, provided the expense of keeping the same can be borne by the Institute" (p. 23).  

When no horses were available, cadets themselves served as draft animals. Artillery instruction under Major Thomas J. Jackson (“Stonewall”) was an exhausting affair, with cadets attempting to maneuver the cannon in response to Jackson's shouted commands. In retaliation, cadets frequently performed pranks, such as withdrawing the linchpins from the cannon wheels or hiding annoying bells on the caisson.

Early 20th Century

In December 1916, Superintendent Edward West Nichols informed the VMI community that three units of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), including cavalry, field artillery, and infantry were to be established at VMI under the National Defense Act of June 1916. The United States government agreed to furnish horses, forage, and the officers and men necessary to lead the mounted unit while VMI was responsible for stables and drill fields.

A campaign was initiated in early 1917 to solicit contributions from VMI Alumni to support the program. On July 7, 1919, 100 horses arrived at VMI along with a detachment of 20 troopers from the 13th Cavalry to care for the animals and provide instruction to the cadets. The stables were ready for use on November 1, 1919, and mounted drills started immediately. VMI then established a polo team, a horse show team, and a Hunt Club. Recreational riding quickly became a large part of cadet life in the 1920s and 1930s.

World War II

World War II and the age of mechanization brought an end to horses at VMI.  Horsemanship had been taught at the Institute from 1919 until 1942. When horse artillery was stopped in late 1942, the guns were disposed of and the horses transferred from artillery to cavalry.

With the end of the cavalry unit in 1946, VMI officials arranged to retain a small stable of mounts for continued riding instruction and for use in formal military ceremonies. A small voluntary cavalry troop continued to take part in special reviews. At this time about 40 horses remained and made their final appearance at a garrison review during graduation week, June 1948.

With the departure of the horses, the stables were remodeled into a building used by the Military Science department. Additionally, an indoor riding hall was built in 1941 and became a field house for basketball and indoor track.

To learn more about the cavalry at VMI, see the book “Keydet Grey and Garry Owen: The Horse at VMI.” Additional photographs of the cavalry at VMI can be found here.