Caracole - Definition and Overview

The caracole or caracol (from the Spanish caracol - "spiral") consists of a manoeuvre on horseback in dressage and, previously, in military tactics.

Dressage caracole

In dressage, riders execute a caracole as a single half turn, either to the left or to the right.

Military caracole

The military caracole developed in the 16th century in an attempt to integrate gunpowder weapons into cavalry tactics. Equipped with one or two wheellock pistols, cavalrymen would advance on their target at less than a gallop. As each rank came into range, the soldiers would turn away, discharge their pistols at the target, retire to reload, and then repeat the manoeuvre. Some sources associate the introduction of the caracole with the name of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (1594 - 1632).

The caracole as a military device on its own generally proved ineffective. It sacrificed the cavalry advantages of speed and mobility, while also leaving mounted soldiers at a disadvantage to massed infantry equipped with heavier and longer-ranged weapons. The caracole gave way to close artillery support for cavalry - breaking up the infantry formations, forcing the soldiers to scatter and allowing cavalry the advantage in numerous individual combats.