Soldiers get horse training before Afghan tour - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Soldiers get horse training before Afghan tour

FRANKLIN, Ind. — Soldiers at Camp Atterbury are getting some help staying in the saddle before they head to Afghanistan.

Three instructors are helping train 60 soldiers and airmen at the Indiana military training site to ride horses before they head to Panjshir Province, where mountainous terrain makes it easier to travel by horse.

The 189th Infantry Brigade at Atterbury is paying for the lessons.

In addition to riding, the soldiers learn grooming, handling, and how to put a saddle and bridle on a horse.

“We’re a security element, so we have to learn this stuff,” Senior Airman Justin White of Henderson, N.C., told The Republic of Columbus.

Jodi Stuehrenberg, 26, a first-grade teacher who has been showing horses since age 5, is one of the instructors. Stuehrenberg is teaching the soldiers how to put both Western and English saddles on horses, since they’ll have to rely on whatever is available in Afghanistan.

Western saddles have horns, more leather and are designed for working with cattle. English saddles are thinner and lighter, and lack horns.

The training is the first experience with a horse for many of the soldiers.

Stuehrenberg, who has won five world titles in Palomino Horse Breeders of America competitions and competes at rodeos in barrel racing events, said the soldiers appear to appreciate the training.

“They want to learn, and I think they’re glad to be here,” she said. “You can definitely tell they’re with the [Air Force] and Army. If one of them doesn’t understand, someone else helps.”

Once the training is complete, 20 soldiers will go on a Sept. 27 trail ride designed to simulate a mission.