“In all my time in the Cavalry I’ve never seen them this bad” said Lance Corporal Stuart Underwood, 25, from Carlisle. “I can only put it down to high spirits and the weather – it’s been dreadful. The King of Spain is visiting Britain on March 8th and everyone of these horses has to be on parade looking immaculate. We’ve certainly got a job on our hands this year!”
Stuart and his colleagues in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment have been working flat out since last Thursday cleaning the ceremonial horses back from their holidays in the fields.
First the worst of the dirt and mud had to be painstakingly brushed out, tangles freed, knots eliminated, then the horses had their over grown hooves clipped, and shod. A warm soapy bath in the solarium, dried under heat lamps, followed in an effort to wash away the ingrained dirt. Then their shaggy coats were clipped, beards shaved, and the close grooming began in earnest.
A healthy balanced diet and gentle build up exercise regime will start to tone muscles and streamline those flanks. It will be several days before the coats recover their mirror shine. It will be weeks before they’re back to full fitness for Army duties.
“Although we know every horse like family, they were in such a state when they got back we have to rely on microchips and their hoof stamps to identify them and get them back into their correct stalls” said Trooper Francis Osborn, 29, from Devizes.
Major Ben Wolfe, 30, from Wimbledon, is the Life Guards Squadron Leader. “The boys have a real challenge on their hands this year, but they’re more than up for it. They’re in the stables from 6am to 4pm working with the horses every day to get them ready for their first parade in six weeks’ time. The transformation will be remarkable but will involve serious, long, hard, patient graft” he explained. “The Queen knows her horses and she’s got a real eye for detail. She’ll be checking that we’ve met those critically high equine standards for state ceremonial and we’re determined as a regiment to put on a good show for Her in front of the King of Spain on March 8th.”
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment never rests. Fighting operational soldiers first and foremost, when based in London their daily duties include providing the Queen’s Life Guard and they protect the official entrance to the Royal Palaces at Horse Guards 24/7, 365 days of the year. To give the horses a well deserved break from the military routine, twice a year all but a rear guard is sent to the country on holiday. Released into wide open fields, their lungs filled with fresh clean air, the magnificent animals frolick, gambol, eat grass and roll in the mud having fun for weeks on end. Many of the soldiers accompany them to keep them safe, healthy and wrap them up in a warm blanket when temperatures drop. It’s these same soldiers that have the arduous duty of transforming them back into immaculate military steeds on their return.
In six weeks all the horses will be ready to return to public duties. Ready to make Britain proud as they take their places centre stage once more in the Queen’s Life Guard.
