The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) is one of Alberta’s oldest and most storied military regiments, with roots reaching back to the 19th century. Its history reflects the evolution of Western Canada itself — from frontier cavalry to modern armored reconnaissance.

The regiment’s story begins in 1885, when the West was still young and local ranchers and townsmen saddled up as the Rocky Mountain Rangers. They weren’t professional soldiers — they were settlers, cowboys, and community men who answered the call because someone had to. They patrolled the foothills during the North-West Rebellion, keeping watch over scattered homesteads. They didn’t fire a shot, but their presence mattered. It set the tone for everything that would follow.

The regiment’s formal lineage begins on 3 July 1905 with the creation of the 15th Light Horse in Calgary, a true cavalry formation with squadrons in Calgary, Fort Macleod, High River, and Cochrane. In the years following, the 15th Light Horse was amalgamated with the South Alberta Horse and in 1954 became the South Alberta Light Horse (SALH). Several other amalgamations occurred but the SALH has maintained its name and presence in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Edmonton.

The regiment served with distinction in the First and Second World Wars as well as Afghanistan and numerous peacekeeping missions worldwide.

Today, the SALH is a Reserve armored reconnaissance regiment within the 41 Canadian Brigade Group and continues to train soldiers in reconnaissance, surveillance, and armored tactics while preserving more than a century of Alberta military history.

Our club had the privalege of visiting the Patterson Armory, home of the SALH in Medicine Hat and the little known, but very impressive South Alberta Light Horse Museum. We received a warm welcome from the curator, Wes Krause and three docents - Paul, Robert and Matt. Robert is a former Commanding Officer and Paul served as the Executive Officer or second in command while Matt is a knowledgeable friend of the regiment.  After a short time to socialize and eat lunch, our tour began.

After splitting into two groups, we were treated to very interesting and informative presentations - first, the museum.

The museum traces the history of the regiment from its earliest beginnings to modern day showcasing artifacts, dioramas, pictures and posters. The gem of the museum is a life size replica of a section of World War 1 trench that Canadian soldiers fought in. Visualizing a 75 day tour in the trench with most of those days raining….the mud, piercing dampness, cold and struggle to do basic functions like cook, eat, sleep and maintain one;s hygiene to a basic level was beyond comprehension. 

After the museum, we met Corporal Conner Payne who described what life in the Canadian Army Reserves looks like from recruitment phases, training and ongoing commitment. Corporal Payne is the grandson of former MP Lavar Payne and the son of Major Troy Payne and represents the latest iteration of dedicated service by the Payne family. Corporal Payne is a civilian Primary Care Paramedic who is continuing his studies in paramedicine at Medicine Hat College. His work in the reserves provides him income, training, and skills that help him in his civilian  work and studies as well as a potential future career path if he so chooses. Being in the reserves requires serving approximately one evening a week, one weekend a month and a multi-week commitment in the summer in order to complete training and maintain skills already acquired. Deployments with regular army units are optional for reservists - there have only been two instances in modern history when reservists have been required to deploy, those being World War 1 and 2. 

Corporal Payne described the unit's primary weapons on the table as well as the general purpose vehicle used by the regiment pictured below.

Note the sign on the wall…

“This is a fine regiment - you can make it the finest”

The regiment maintains a proud cavalry heritage, reflected in its nickname “The Sally Horse”, its motto Semper Alacer (“Always brisk”), and its enduring connection to Alberta’s ranching and prairie culture. Its mascot is the Pronghorn Antelope representing the prairie the regiment's roots are based in, the speed and alertness required of reconnaissance units and provides a connection to the soldiers past and present of the unit.

As we end our visit to the armory and its fine museum, I would like to take a moment to remember the soldiers from our area and the SALH who went overseas to serve and never came home, soldiers such as Sapper Stephan J. Stock who died in Afghanistan in 2008 at age 25 as the result of an IED explosion. 

Thank you to all past and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces for your service and sacrifice.