The Kievskii Cuirassiers is an educational interpretive group that is part of New Sotterlee Project International (NSPI).  Our focus is on the time period 1756-1763.  We train our interpretive people and horses in the way the soldiers were taught in the mid-18th century...minus the floggings.  

 

To assist our troops learn the 18th century methods, most of whom are new to equitation and/or interpretive work, everything is taught in Russian from the ground up.   Before we can do it on horse, we have to be able to do it on foot.  Our training includes the period horsemanship (Classical Equitation), classical weapons work and classical Russian martial arts (Systema).  We are not masters, but students of all of these.  

 

Craig Stevens (National School of Classical Equitation) and his student, Eric Ziegler, provide guidance and education opportunities for our Classical Equitation training.  Some of our troops have had the opportunity to do hands-on work with them.  Many of our horses are rescue animals.  

 

We apply Systema to all aspects of our work.  We are studying Systema from the Systema Headquarters in Toronto, Canda.  Our goal is to build show troops that are field capable.  

 

Our troop is built upon a system in which after the Levies have equipped themselves with their basic Levie kit and learned the Levie skills, further equipment is issued by the unit as members demonstrate their ability in the various skills.  Our gear list is straight from the period lists.  If you have to spend money, spend it once and spend it right.  

 

We sort through possible levies and levi horses to find those who are willing to commit to our intense training and high level of commitment to the Classical Way, the Kievskii Way, of doing things.

 

 

Excellence in Training, the Kievskii Way.