By IANS,
Jaipur : Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh Sunday reviewed a spectacular parade of 61 Cavalry, the only horse-mounted cavalry of the force here, to mark its raising day.
The unit has the distinction of being awarded a Padma Shri and 10 Arjuna awards for outstanding performance in the field of equestrian sports in major events.
This was the army chief’s first visit to the regiment since taking over as the Colonel of the Regiment, according to Jodhpur-based defence spokesperson Col. S.D. Goswami.
South Western Army Commander Lt.Gen. Gyan Bhushan and 61 Sub Area General Officer Commanding Maj.Gen. K.J.S. Thind too took salute at the parade held at the Cavalry Ground here.
“Apart from the remarkable drills, skills of horsemanship and ceremonial regalia associated with every army parade, what made the event very special is the fact that 61 Cavalry is the only mounted horse cavalry regiment of the Indian Army,” Goswami said.
“At the parade, the regiment in ceremonial regalia mounted on 221 resplendently groomed horses made a breath taking sight. The parade displayed the superb quality of horsemanship, discipline and morale of the regiment,” he said.
The regiment paraded in walk, trot and gallop, in formations of eight, four and twelve.
The unit historically comprising of Gwalior Lancers, Jodhpur/Kachhawa Horse, Mysore Lancers, 2 Patiala Lancers and Saurashtra Horsed Cavalry State Forces.
It celebrated its 59th year of raising in its present form and commemorated the historical cavalry battle at Haifa (the then Turkish-held Palestine) in 1918 by the erstwhile state forces cavalry units.