475guy,

Knowing military practice the guys who maintain those skills may have to practice in their spare time for zero pay...but the Army still tries to maintain those skills.

If you're ever in El Paso I think the unit at Ft. Bliss does the horse cavalry shows regularly for the public except when they're on deployment. For the shows, they wear the 1800's blue cavalry uniforms and slouch hats, and are armed with .45-70 Trapdoor Springfields and Colt SAA's. When on deployment I think they leave the horses at home and take the helicopters.

Richard.