Mounted Cavalry (Dadada-dat-dada!)

Don and I were perusing the Reimer Digital Library and came across a US
Special Forces manual on mounted operations.

Horse-mounted operations with pack animal (mule, donkey, horse) support,
primarily.  However there is a chapter on llamas. . . 

The manual is surprisingly detailed and was revised last year,
indicating someone's been thinking about this a great deal.

Anyway, we've been corresponding with Nic about ordering a line of
figures equipped in accordance with said manual.  We're going to be
putting together a large enough order to get the line started with 4
variations of equippage.  What we're going for is variations in
weaponry--bullpupped rifles, M-79s, a SAW (folding-stock minimi) and a
pack-wearing figure that with an antenna becomes an EW trooper, and
without becomes a medic.

What I'm curious about is will there be any other interest in these
guys?  I'm hoping to get together enough orders to get Nic to do some
more variations (horseholder, troopers charging with pistol at the
ready, some warped officer that insists on carrying a saber, etc) after
we order the main force.  Maybe eventually also loaded pack animals
(loaded with dismantled light mortars, recoilless rifles, DFFGs, missle
launchers, etc)??  Who knows, even a force of crack llama commandos some
day.

This is how I described them to Nic:
>>>
They would be wearing standard camoflage uniforms, with boonie caps (the
same Science Fiction boonie caps the OUDF has, with visors and commo
mike).	They would be wearing cowboy-style boots, spurs, and leather
chaps, and instead of traditional web gear they should have LBVs
(loadbearing vests like the US Army has--will send pictures if
necessary).  The troops will also be carrying small assault packs and
'camelback'-style water bladders on their backs.  Each man would also
have a holstered pistol.

Other armament would include: a bull-pupped rifle (simillar to NAC one,
but no underbarrel grenade launcher), an M-79-style large-caliber
grenade launcher, or a shotgun (bullpupped also).  The squad support
weapon would be no larger than a Minimi, preferably with folding stock. 
It would have to use the 200-round ammo boxes like the minimi.	All
weapons would be carried cross-chest with a top-sling when mounted.
>>> 

Don's doing up some drawings and we'll be taking pictures of some
specific equipment combinations to get more details worked out, but how
much interest in mounted troops is there?

John M. Atkinson
Don Maddox