Fort Concho to Host Cavalry Competition

A press release today from Fort Concho announced that this week, 20 riders from across Texas and the Southwest will take part in the Regional Cavalry Competition at the Fort, located at 630 S. Oakes St.

The event kicks off Wednesday, April 20, with preliminary classroom instruction and riding classes. The main competitive events start Thursday, April 21, and continue through Saturday, April 23. All activities will take place in a specially fenced arena at the east end of the Fort’s Parade Ground in front of Barracks 5 & 6.

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

Events will occur, rain or shine, but the schedule may be changed due to poor weather.

The military horsemanship competition will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 21.

Later in the day, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., riders will compete in pistol and jumping.

On Friday, April 22, 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 start at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23, 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.