"Ratio of Horse Holders to held horses " Topic

I'm looking for any information people may have on the ratio of horses to horse holders in ECW dragoon regiments. I have heard 1 in 10 being told off to hold horses. 1 per file which suggests either 1 holding 3 or 6 depending on how large the files were and if they used horse march formation (6 deep) or combat (3 deep) or foot files. I'm sure I read something on this a while ago but can't find it now.

Streeter shows them holding more than 3 at Naseby if it is of any help …

Whilst I don't think this documents any specific ratio I think if it was many, many holders holding only 3 mounts the scene would look different.

Phil
ECWBattles

I'd love to see a man on foot try to hang onto 6-10 excitable horses with all that musketry and smoke less than a hundred yards away.

19th century doctrine was for 1 (mounted) man to hold 3 other horses, wasn't it?

My recollection is that the US Cavalry in the Indian Wars went with one holder for four horses.

Been a while since I rad that though…

The other post I recalled mentioned the horse holder stayed mounted and looped each horses reins over the head of the next horse. Assuming I am recalling correctly.

I use one per 4 horses, as that's the way they come in the Freikorps packet!