Tradition does not preserve itself. It takes people who believe it is worth carrying forward.
In 1943, the U.S. Army disbanded its horse operations, and mounted drills at Texas A&M went with it. For three decades, that piece of the University’s identity sat quiet.
Then three members of the Class of 1974 decided it was not finished.
Michael Collins, Doug Latimer, and Darrell Williams researched the original unit, rallied support, and revived what would become Parsons Mounted Cavalry, named after then-Commandant Col. Tom Parsons '49. They started with 27 members who supplied their own horses, equipment, and dues.
Photo by Parsons Mounted Cavalry, Texas A&M University
Over fifty years later, Parsons Mounted Cavalry has grown into a unit of approximately 95 cadets and 74 horses and mules. Many of those cadets arrive with no prior horsemanship experience. However, they leave with something that carries them for the rest of their lives.
The unit has marched in a presidential inaugural parade, with 32 cadets and 26 horses riding through Washington, D.C., for George H.W. Bush's inaugural in 1989 alongside the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and Ross Volunteers. They fire The Spirit of '02, a 1902 model 3-inch Army field gun, at Kyle Field every time the Aggies score. They make over 35 public appearances a year, traveling more than 1,500 miles across Texas in a single semester.
They train and live at Fiddler's Green, named after a 19th-century cavalry poem about an idyllic afterlife for soldiers and their mounts. Current commanding officer Hunter Mayfield ‘27 described what that commitment looks like day to day: “They train and live at Fiddler's Green, named after a 19th-century cavalry poem about an idyllic afterlife for soldiers and their mounts. Current commanding officer Hunter Mayfield '27 put it plainly: "The daily commitment of being in Parsons Mounted Cavalry extends far beyond riding horses. While the public often sees us at game days, parades, and special events, those moments are made possible by countless hours spent caring for horses, planning operations, coordinating logistics, and supporting one another behind the scenes. Through these responsibilities, the cavalry develops people as much as it develops horsemanship. At its core, the cavalry is about putting the horses, the unit, and each other first. Through these commitments, we are developing confident, resilient leaders." “
That is the kind of program we are proud to be a part of.
These are working horses. They march on pavement, haul up and down the road, perform under pressure, and are expected to show up sound and willing every single day. The cadets behind them put in countless hours long before anyone is watching, and the horses always come first.
Four Sixes Equine Supplements is proud to fuel the horses and the program behind Parsons Mounted Cavalry. The values that guide this unit are the same ones that have guided the Four Sixes for generations.
Shop at https://6666equinesupplements.com/collections/all-products and use code PMC20 for 20% off sitewide.
At Four Sixes Equine Supplements, our approach is built around supporting the whole horse from the foundation up. We do not chase trends or quick fixes. We focus on the science and what works. Proven on the ranch and in the arena, our supplements are part of a daily management approach built on the same steady principles that have guided horse care at the Four Sixes Ranch for generations.
Sources
Carr, Lindsey. "Hoofprints of History." Texas A&M Foundation Spirit Magazine. Winter 2024. spirit.txamfoundation.com
