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Guy Henry (equestrian)
Encyclopedia
Major General Guy Vernor Henry, Jr. (December 26, 1875 – November 29, 1967) was an American
horse rider
who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
.
in 1899 during the Spanish-American War
. He also won two Distinguished Service Medals later in life.
Henry went on to study at the French Cavalry School in Saumur, France and used the knowledge he gained there to change the treatment and training of US Cavalry Horses. This included starting horses not by "breaking" them using the traditional western methods, but by training them on the longe
, then slowly teaching them to accept the weight of a human on their back. He also brought dressage
methods from both the French and German schools, with a great deal of influence from Baucher, and as senior instructor of equitation at the Mounted Service School at Ft. Riley he insisted in teaching new recruits to properly use the aids
and promoted the European methods. Henry helped to institute the high level of horsemanship at Ft. Riley, helping to develop farrier and veterinary programs which were to become required courses for cavalry lieutenants. He also got rid of the harsh curb bit
used by the Cavalry, known as the Shoemaker bit, and replaced it with either the snaffle bit or the double bridle
.
disciplines - dressage
, eventing
, and show jumping
- for the United States during his years in the Army. His most distinguished Olympic results occurred at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, where he won the bronze medal in the team eventing
competition, finished 11th in the individual event, 4th in the team jumping competition
, and 13th in the individual dressage competition
.
Henry later served at Chef dÉquipe for the US Teams from 1936–1948, was chairman on the Olympic Equestrian Committee from 1930–1960, and director of equestrian events at the 1932 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
horse rider
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
.
Biography
Guy V. Henry, Jr. was born into the military life. Son of Guy Vernor Henry, he went on to graduate from West Point in 1898, and distinguished his military career by winning the Silver StarSilver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
in 1899 during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. He also won two Distinguished Service Medals later in life.
Henry went on to study at the French Cavalry School in Saumur, France and used the knowledge he gained there to change the treatment and training of US Cavalry Horses. This included starting horses not by "breaking" them using the traditional western methods, but by training them on the longe
Longeing
Longeing or lungeing is a technique for training horses, where a horse is asked to work at the end of a long line and respond to commands from a handler on the ground who holds the line. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting...
, then slowly teaching them to accept the weight of a human on their back. He also brought dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
methods from both the French and German schools, with a great deal of influence from Baucher, and as senior instructor of equitation at the Mounted Service School at Ft. Riley he insisted in teaching new recruits to properly use the aids
Riding aids
Riding aids are the cues a rider gives to a horse to communicate what they want the animal to do. Riding aids are broken into the natural aids and the artificial aids.-Natural aids:...
and promoted the European methods. Henry helped to institute the high level of horsemanship at Ft. Riley, helping to develop farrier and veterinary programs which were to become required courses for cavalry lieutenants. He also got rid of the harsh curb bit
Curb bit
A curb bit is a type of bit used for riding horses that uses lever action. It includes the pelham bit and the Weymouth curb along with the traditional "curb bit" used mainly by Western riders....
used by the Cavalry, known as the Shoemaker bit, and replaced it with either the snaffle bit or the double bridle
Double bridle
A double bridle, also called a full bridle or Weymouth bridle, is a bridle that has two bits and four reins . One bit is the bradoon , is a modified snaffle bit that is smaller in diameter and has smaller bit rings than a traditional snaffle, and it is adjusted so that it sits above and behind the...
.
Olympic Equestrian Career
Henry competed in all three Olympic equestrianEquestrian at the Summer Olympics
Equestrianism made its Summer Olympics debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It disappeared until 1912, but has appeared at every Summer Olympic Games since. The current Olympic equestrian disciplines are Dressage, Eventing, and Jumping...
disciplines - dressage
Dressage
Dressage is a competitive equestrian sport, defined by the International Equestrian Federation as "the highest expression of horse training." Competitions are held at all levels from amateur to the World Equestrian Games...
, eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
, and show jumping
Show jumping
Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping," "open jumping," or "jumpers," is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes commonly are seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics...
- for the United States during his years in the Army. His most distinguished Olympic results occurred at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, where he won the bronze medal in the team eventing
Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Team eventing
The team eventing was an equestrian event held as part of the Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event. The team score was simply the sum of the best three scores for each nation in the individual eventing competition.-Results:...
competition, finished 11th in the individual event, 4th in the team jumping competition
Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Team jumping
The team jumping was an equestrian event held as part of the Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event. Unlike the team eventing competition, the team jumping was not simply a sum of scores from the individual jumping competition. Instead, riders...
, and 13th in the individual dressage competition
Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics - Individual dressage
The individual dressage was an equestrian event held as part of the Equestrian at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the first appearance of the event. The Swedish team dominated the event, taking all three medals and having all six riders place within the top 8.-Results:...
.
Henry later served at Chef dÉquipe for the US Teams from 1936–1948, was chairman on the Olympic Equestrian Committee from 1930–1960, and director of equestrian events at the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
in Los Angeles.
Other Achievements
- Director of the Cavalry School at West Point (1916–1918)
- Chief of US Cavalry (1930–1934)
- Commandant of US Cavalry School at Fort RileyFort RileyFort Riley is a United States Army installation located in Northeast Kansas, on the Kansas River, between Junction City and Manhattan. The Fort Riley Military Reservation covers 100,656 acres in Geary and Riley counties and includes two census-designated places: Fort Riley North and Fort...
(1935–1939) - Judge at horse shows at the international level
- Director of the US Equestrian Team
- Director of the American Horse Shows Association
- Director of New York's National Horse Show Association
- President of the Fédération Équestre Internationale, the only American to be placed in that position (1931–1935)
Footnotes
- Bryant, Jennifer O. Olympic Equestrian, A Century of International Horse Sport. Lexington, KY: Blood-Horse Publications, 2008