Page 28 - RAVC Centenary Parade

REVIVING PACK ANIMAL TRANSPORTATION
SSGT KERRY ALFORD, ESTATE MANAGER, EQUINE TRAINING SQUADRON
Historically The Pack Animal Transportation Course has been run at the Defence Animal Training
Regiment (DATR) since the mid 70s when the Royal Corps of Transport handed over the responsibility of delivering the course to theRAVC.TheDATRdeliveredthecourse to Special Forces, Infantry soldiers, and it was also delivered to RAVC soldiers during their basic training but now due to the reduced need for the capability, the course has not been run since 2008.
Although the use of pack animals has decreased in the modern army, a need could always arise where this capability could be utilised again, therefore handlers
and commanders need to have an understanding of the role, employment and organisation of the pack animal.
With this in mind and the potential of this capability being called upon for future operations, especially in undulating terrains, it was decided to find a couple of budding pack ponies from our current holdings to train, and if necessary we could even very quickly spring The Pack Animal Transportation Course into life once again.
After ruling out any animal over 15.2hh, we were left with two potential smaller horses Elita (Ellie) and Pandora that, should they progress through training, would make ideal pack transportation animals.
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MELTON MOWBRAY / FRIDAY 27 JULY 2018