Aligarh’s cavalry

14th Murray’s Jat Lancers was raised here. 120 sowars or cavalrymen made the cavalry regiment raised in Aligarh in 1857. These men and the horses were drawn from the region. I begin to imagine these cavalrymen on the roads of Aligarh today. The men, as sharp featured as now and horses of the finest Indian thoroughbred stock. The desire to ride one at the AMU Riding Club remains.

There is an amazing number of stories about small cavalry regiments raised in India during the 19th century. Of men and their horses much needs to be told. Every damn town has at least a couple of statues with horse mounted heroes. And yet, riding hasnt managed to survive. An anthology of cavalrymen and their horses must be compiled.

Would want to dig up Skinner’s Horse and Murray’s cavalry history soon.