Page 401 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
that destination.20
Eventually, seven horses were hired from a
Mr Pat Short the manager of the San Carlos settlement at £5 per day and were based at Kelly’s Garden. Two other horses were hired for a mere £2 per day. Due to the Falkland Islanders’ methods of ‘breaking in’ their horses, they were, at first, totally unapproachable, but with much patience, skill, and tact – the exercise started to bear fruit. Sergeant Carter believed that the initial war and kinetic activity that the local horses had been subjected to during and post conflict had contributed to many of their problems.21
Regrettably essential specialist equipment, such as Pack horse saddles and other necessary tack required for the trial failed to arrive until Friday 3rd June 1983, even though it had arrived in Port Stanley in late April. The delay was very much due to the sluggishness of unloading and the scarcity of freight transportation around the islands. This situation gave the Corps’ expert an opportunity and the time to make himself acquainted with the seven horses selected from the meagre number available, for the trial. The familiarisation and subsequent training of the horses was conducted, as mentioned before, in an area known as Kelly’s Garden – a 400 acre muddy, boggy site to the west of San Carlos.
The trial encountered a few early problems including the fact that the horses had not been ridden or used for some time, and the method that had been used to ‘break them in’ made it difficult to initially approach the animals. However, a much-needed supply of oats loaned by Mr Short assisted in the training and conditioning of the horses and it meant that they could be fed and coaxed through the entire month of May. In due course, this regimen and Sgt Carter’s prowess and horsemanship paid dividends as the horses eventually became both catchable and able to be ridden. Sadly, two of the local equines were deemed so wild that they could not be used at all.22
Sergeant Carter, despite an already busy schedule, also made much use of the limited spare time to complete lengthy reconnaissance trips over the difficult undulating terrain. He knew that it was vital to familiarise himself with the routes to and from the air defence surface to air missile sites, which were strategically placed on high terrain.
Within one week of the arrival of the pack equipment in mid-June, two horses were more
than able to carry water and rations to sites rather than using the unreliable Snow Cats. Success was easy to see and by 19th June one horse, “Mr Softie”, had successfully negotiated the first load to a high point, which was a victory for the Pack transport at a time of ongoing non-availability of helicopters or Snow cats yet again.23 By 21st June two of the animals had accepted loads and re-supplied a site with water, rations, and kerosene.
The second report on the trial, dated 14th July 1983 outlined that many difficulties had already been overcome: four horses were accepting loads and were active in their role and proving efficient at taking Rapier Anti-Aircraft missile spares to the more elevated sites on the Eastern Ridge. However, to re-supply all the Rapier sites with water and rations alone would require at least twenty-four horses. When tasked, one horse was able to carry all the spares required. All replacement parts carried by the horses were essential items to keep the Rapiers in working order, and on one occasion, a horse even carried a command transmitter to a high site. Two of the tasks took place during blizzards, thereby proving that the horses could be used during severe weather conditions – unlike helicopters. This level of success prompted thoughts on the possibilities of what the horses could offer at the end of the trial, such as: to base a RAVC NCO at Kelly’s Garden with three horses, thereby re-equipping the East Ridge. Base another RAVC NCO at Wreck House with two horses, thereby covering all sites on the West Ridge.24
Correspondence from Sgt Carter to the RAVC that was held on file outlined: “I’m quite pleased that the REME even trust me with the actual computer that guides the missiles once launched, so the main things I, or rather the horses are carrying are Command transmitters, secondary transmitters, TV grids, computer power supply’s main computers, data cables and various odds and ends that are all essential to keep the equipment working. I always seem to go to the nearest high site, the kit is always on the blink, and they’ve even made a picket line up there (for the horses)! Anyway, when people say to me now: “Do you think a trial will work?” I say, “it is working!”
In the same letter, Sgt Carter also referred to the RAVC Mine Dog Section: “It’s a pity about the breakup of the mine dog section, as we’ve laid more mines, only difference being ours are all marked. It might seem funny, but the poor old
20 Interim Report dated 15th August 1983, Reference 16402 Sup. HQ BFFI New Hostel.
21 TC/A 10012 RAVC dated 9th November 1983 – Covering letter re Pack Horse Trial April – September 1983 by Sergeant Graham Carter RAVC.
22 Ibid.
23 Final Report dated 9th November 1983, from RAVC TC, reference TC/A 10012 RAVC to MoD AVR.
24 Ref 2050 Pack Horse Trial – Second report dated 14th July 1983.
393