Operation Cowboy and the 1945 Rescue of Europe's Stolen Horses 

I love hearing how, after so many of that era died far too young, some veterans still managed to live to such a venerable old age. It is like a giant raspberry in the face to the forces that were willing to imagine and to bring about such terrible destruction.

❤️🦄❤️

Great Story, I wish I could of Heard him Tell it

My grandfather was apart of this too.

Could you tell us what you remember from the story? Any of his phrases?

May he rest in peace .... Thanks for what he did. 🐴💯💋🇸🇮

May he rest in peace, and with the honor of having saved such beautiful creatures.

A great, but far more horrible story to complement this would be the story of the Trek. The journey to flee the Red Army and save as many Trakehners as possible. Under heavy shelling and bombardment in snow and ice. So few survived and most of those left behind became meat for Russian soldiers, except for a few that Russian and Polish soldiers with horse sense recognised and saved to improve their respective breeding stocks.

Pentathlon.

The story of the firearms portion of the competition is of interesting historical relevance.

how did they get the tanks over the jumps on the steeplechase?

@@harridan. That has me curious, too, lol.

@@terryrussel3369 Interesting. I should look that up.

NICE~~~~!

That's awesome. Glad to hear the horse was well taken care of.

animals dont care how you say their name they just want a loving gaze and words spoken with love. you know that horse loved you and that horse knew you loved her!

Where did you learn to ride? Temple Lippanzers has a large herd of them. There also were some near Virginia/Maryland. (I rode in Virginia)

@@ericericson4 I grew up on a horse farm in NJ.

Robert Queberg I was able to buy my dream horse, a 2 year old Percheron mare when I was 44 years old and she was the most loyal and connected to me horse I ever had the pleasure of knowing. I’m almost envious of your childhood memories and hope you’re grateful for those experiences!

Susan Lumen , Yes, I am very grateful for the many experiences and responsibilities that shaped my later life. Along with a pony, my brother and I got a brand new manure fork. Dad later kept between 12-15 head of horses, which were my responsibility. I am keeping the last of Dad’s horses, until death do us part. When a person understands the uneasy relationship between a predator(us), and a prey species(horses), things can become very nice. I do not like the term, breaking a horse. Treating a horse as an equal is much safer for all parties involved. As a kid, I was taught that you made a horse do things. Later in life I adopted the strategy of making them want to. Enjoy your horse every day.

Robert Queberg Sadly I had to put Mercy down three years ago, which I did myself because I felt that she deserved to be with her most familiar human who loved her for the 18 years we were together. By the way, I agree completely with you on working with a horse on empathetic lines, listening to them for their input. I have found this to produce the best and most rewarding relationship! And I own my own manure fork!

Susan Lumen , Good girl. There is a lot to be learned from being a manure fork operator. You have more time to talk to them, and to spot changes in their health. It is sad to hear that your Mercy is gone. The years that you shared, paid great dividends to both of you.

I didn't like history while in school. Had this guy been my teacher I daresay my feeling would have been different.

Thank you for being a Teacher.

@@higgydufrane you are welcome. ☺

I'm a retired college history instructor as well. I too would have loved to have these as resources for my students.

If i was still in school i definitely would have showed my teacher THG and The Great War channel (or the ww2 channel now). THG and Indy Niedel deliver history in a way most find enjoyable

I have the book as well, and it taught me a great deal about understanding the behavior of my own horses. I also had the privilege of seeing Col. Podhajski on tour in Chicago in 1964. The show was truly amazing.

@@erynlasgalen1949 I am envious of you actually seeing him. Was he riding in the performance or just running the show? He is such a master of equitation!

What a thrilling occasion you and your beloved grandparents!

According to the Second Cavalry Association, Colonel Reed didn't consult with Patton before embarking on the rescue mission.. This was on his own initiative.

There is a scene in the movie "Patton" that shows the general (George C. Scott) riding (yes, the real Patton was quite an accomplished rider, having served in the cavalry in WWI) a white horse in an indoor arena that bears a strong resemblance to the Spanish Riding School. He is doing this while answering reporters' questions.

The cavalry formation lives on as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Stryker) to this day. In fact, every day since 1836, the longest continuously serving active U.S. regiment.

I have Lou Holz's Zippo lighter from WW II, engraved with his name, unit, and year 1945.

It is hard to believe a horse could do that, but seeing is believing. I've seen them and though the price of the tickets was money well spent.

Is that where the horse with rider springs up clear of the ground while staying in the same position? I think I may have seen it performed while watching a documentary.

If you ain't Cav, you ain't chit.

Scouts out.

Toujour Pret Trooper!!!!

Spent 10 years in the Regiment.

Hopefully when they were still in Germany.

@Leonard Chornomaz I understand that, but the breakfast with Reed was the chance meeting.

According to Lt. Holz, who was part of the rescue operation, the German General they talked to was named Schultze.

@@amadeusamwater I have read that but the POW records don't show a general of that name near western Czechoslovakia at the time of the rescue. There were several generals with similar names as POW's but none of them would have been involved with the horses. The feeling among historians is we just don't know for sure who this general was.

@@sarjim4381I'm only repeating what Lt. Holz, who there said. Perhaps he got the name wrong. Memories will do funny things over the years.

@@amadeusamwaterIt could have been one of two things. Either Lt. Holz misremembered the name or our own POW records are wrong and Lt. Holz got it right. The Army was taking tens of thousands of prisoners a day as German positions were overrun or they just surrendered in the face of advancing Russian troops. Things were pretty hectic, and soldiers were routinely giving false names if they were afraid of being found out for their criminal activities. At this late date, historians haven't been able to figure out who this general really was, so his name is lost to history pending any new information.

I hope this dream comes true for you! Enjoy the performance for me, I’m too old to travel!

I lived on a cattle ranch in Montana until I was 8, so I started life on horse back. When I was in my teens and living in Oregon, my dad took the family to see them. And it was indeed "absolutely amazing to watch". I got to see them a second time in Germany.

Was this at the Tryon equestrian center? Now I'm wishing I had went! Middle of a hurricane, the place half built way behind schedule due to all the rain we had(and continue to have) that show did not stand a chance.. 1/4th the audience they hoped for which is a real shame for the state. Assuming that's where you saw them.

The 1963 movie Miracle of the White Stallions is about this although but I doubt how historically accurate it is. www.imdb.com/title/tt0057312/

Very overdramatic accounting.

I saw that show as a child! Loved it!

The tank made it into Czech-mate in one.

I thought he said that, and was confused for the rest of the video

I salute your father. 🇺🇸

Except that Dr. Mark Felton told this story about the rescue of the Lipizzaner's a year before the History Guy!

@@benadam7753 Cross-checking the facts from many sources is always exciting.

John Doe -- And he was open-minded enough to understand that others appreciated the art form, even if it was not to his preference.

I have to agree with this. It's letting someone do what needs to be done without wet nursing them.

He made a comment in his memoirs about it being odd for healthy men of military age to have been caring for those horses during the war instead of fighting.

From what I have read about General Patton he was not a micromanager. He gave an order expected it to be followed. His style of leadership would not fair well today. He was not a team player. He was a glory seeker. He was reprimanded in private and public by his superiors several times for his actions. His legendary status is probably polished to what it was at the time. We tend to remember the good things

True. So much unnecessary drama in this telling of a rather innocuous episode in history.

Indeed. You are correct. The Haut Ecol moves were battle moves. Years of training.

j nieblin: I believe it's the history guy's passion for history, along with his gift for story telling that brings history to life. History is vitally important and DOES deserve to be remembered!

I saw them when they were in Fresno California. I had known the story for years but while watching I silently thanked all responsible for saving the breed.

Little Dikkins - And it was truly an AMAZING show!

@@Erin-Thor Yes it was.

Erin Thorkildsen If that show was put on by a family with the last name of Herrmann, my family knew them. While they were touring in Calif. with their "Airs Above The Ground" show they had some mechanical problems with one of their cars. My dad was a mechanic & he helped them. We also owned horses, our parents spoke german & a friendship developed. The father of the family (who was quite elderly by then; it was his adult sons who handled the performing) was one of the people involved in rescuing the Lipizzaners. We had a wonderful opportunity to learn about the horse's history, & be shown how they're trained, as well as a seat in the VIP box at the show. The family still has a Lipizzan farm in Florida, operated now by the grandaughter. I think they still do some shows. Our families lost touch, but I still have some beautiful photos of them & the horses.

I have owned and bred Lipizzan horses in Southern California since 1983. One of my purchased stallion's ancestors was born at Hostau, and no doubtedly arrived in the shipment mentioned. I fell in love with the breed at seven years old, when I saw the Disney movie 'Miracle of the White Stallions'. Thank you for covering this... I've been subscribing for months and was surprised to see you cover this so well.

John CocaCola When they were truly war horses they were also trained to bite and rip flesh, kick with devastating accuracy and rear and put a foreleg through an opposing rider. Those things are actually the basis for the beautiful ballet they now perform.

It is beautiful to watch thou being a career professional horseman it's been an incredible honour to have spent my life in their servitude .

@@johncocacola5377 "it's been an incredible honour to have spent my life in their servitude" Thats one thing I don't think allot of people understand, humans serve the animal as much as animal serves the human when animals and humans work closely together. I honestly think its a large part of what is degrading society.

@@barbaravick5634 The Horse trained that way was a War Machine, but not with tight rein like in current shows.

@@barbaravick5634 and kick bite and kill infantry to

Those who do not honor and respect the valuable lessons of the past are condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past. It is one of my greatest fears of today.

There were 175 lipican horses from Lipic Slovenian, and more from other countries

I also read The Perfect Horse. If you are intrigued by this story that is where you should go next. I did not realize until I read it how many other breeds of horses were involved. It also tells the fate of several of them after the rescue.

@C C : I send you and your family my sincere condolences. I pray that mankind will soon be peaceful as the animals the dominate.

There were quite a few harrowing stories- including the horses being present for the bombing of Dresden. In fact, there are stories from previous wars as well. Generations of people have sacrificed to keep this tradition alive.

Thanks for your quick response. As those British Colonial types would say, your deeds show you to be an officer and a gentleman! It's meant as a compliment but who would want to be a useless English officer? Who would aspire to be a gingoist boring English gentleman? How useless are British officers? The actress Charlies Theron's great great uncle and his 105 men were so troublesome during the Anglo-Boer war that the British assigned a special unit of 4000 men to deal with them. The British officers and troops failed. OUCH!

@@johnbondza An yet, in the end, they still capitulated to the British led by officers and gentlemen. Please don't denigrate another country because of their traditions. Most British officers today would like to be thought of as gentlemen, and why not?

@@knightowl3577 perhaps one should study the British Officers of that 1898 - 1903 war. When they couldn't catch the wily Boor/boer, they put the boore women and children in concentration camps to die. One third did! More than half my relatives died. A truly proud tradition don't you think what-oh. Before we retire to the terrace for a couple of pink G&Ts, please remind me of how proud you are of your GREAT officers. If 4000 english soldiers can't eliminate 105enemy, then kill their sweethearts, dispose of their mothers, eliminate their young sisters and brothers. Now that's a proud achievement for the omnipresent and omnipotent British Officer! (Or is it?) History is the record of the winning side. We remember the valour of the winners and the atrocities of the losers. Trouble is that in the Anglo-Boor/boer conflict, it's so difficult do find Boor/boer atrosoties. It's so easy to find ones by English officers. The sins of the fathers shall be visited on their children, even to the third and fourth generations. Edit - A lot of military prowess is about the units tradition. An officer accepts those traditions when he joins the unit. He cannot later claim these traditions selectively. He must speak out about any atrocities and traditions that are unacceptable to humanity. Show us one unit or even one officer who in the last 100 years has had the guts to speak out! Is those the traditions defining a gentleman in English society. Then please mark me as one who is NO GENTLEMAN.

@@johnbondza Sorry I did not realise you had a huge chip on your shoulder for events that are long gone. You see everyone seem to hate the English today for the actions of their forefathers. What can I say, the British were not fast or efficient enough in the action you are so proud of? They weren't and failed badly but what they did do is they learned from it and used that in future encounters. Yes, the British did many things that from today's perspective look brutal, but they were different times and that is how history played out. I can make no excuses or apologise for the actions of my long gone countrymen, and what would be the point? I'm glad you have great pride in the actions of your forefathers. Just as I am proud of mine. Which were Irish by the way and not at all aristocratic. I had an ancestor that fought in the second Boer War as we call it here, a signals officer, l am proud of him because he served his country just as both my Grandfathers, my Father and his brothers did in WWI and WWII. I hope my ancestor that came to your land was a gentleman. And I always endeavour to be one myself. Remember we are both here because of an interest in history and the past is a place where things were done differently, all we can do is learn from their mistakes.

Oh no, please tell me that the Africans didn't eat them after the white South Africans foolishly surrendered their country to the African population.