It's full steam ahead at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment's Hyde Park Barracks: not only do they have to keep up with their daily duty of being on Queen's Life Guard at Horse Guards Parade, but they are also preparing for The Queen's Birthday Parade on 17 June. Take a look around the yard below, and don't miss today's issue of Horse & Hound magazine for the full behind-the-scenes feature
This is an image
1
of
23
An early start: Troopers are on the yard in central London by 5.30am to begin mucking out the 211 horses
This is an image
2
of
23
Military organisation: a white board matches up soldiers with their duties and horses for the day
This is an image
3
of
23
‘Guard Exercise’ kicks off at 6.15am in the indoor school, designed to take the edge off the horses that are going on guard duty that day
This is an image
4
of
23
Two officers exercise their horses up Rotten Row in Hyde Park in the bright spring sunshine
This is an image
5
of
23
Soldiers return from ‘Watering order’, where horses are exercised around the streets of West London
This is an image
6
of
23
Civilians who help exercise the horses in the early hours in Hyde Park head back into the barracks
This is an image
7
of
23
An outdoor school in Hyde Park provides another space for the horses to be kept fit
This is an image
8
of
23
A horse walker is tucked into the smallest of spaces, used mainly for injured horses in need of rehabilitation
This is an image
9
of
23
Meet Big Red: the drum horses are part-bred Shire or Clydesdale, and carry drums weighing 55kg and 65kg
This is an image
10
of
23
The stables at Hyde Park Barracks are on two storeys, with The Blues and Royals upstairs and The Life Guards underneath
This is an image
11
of
23
Chalk is used to make the white markings stand out, ahead of going on Queen’s Life Guard
This is an image
12
of
23
Attention to detail: Trooper Beaumont of The Blues and Royals prepares his kit
This is an image
13
of
23
To prepare a new pair of boots, 2kg of beeswax is melted onto them using a blowtorch
This is an image
14
of
23
The forge is in high demand, with the regiment’s farriers shoeing up to 30 horses a day
This is an image
15
of
23
Inspection time: an officer checks that all kit is in order at 10am before the soldiers go on guard
This is an image
16
of
23
The soldiers head down The Mall, ready to change the guard at Horse Guards Parade
This is an image
17
of
23
The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals are on guard on alternate days
This is an image
18
of
23
The regiment’s horses are largely Irish-bred, standing at a minimum of 16.2hh and most of them are black, aside from those ridden by trumpeters, which are traditionally grey
This is an image
19
of
23
Camera ready: tourists gather round to get a glimpse of this iconic tradition
This is an image
20
of
23
Captain Mulholland heads through the arch at Horse Guards, ready for the 4 O’Clock inspection
This is an image
21
of
23
Back in the stables at Horse Guards, where the horses rest while not on duty
This is an image
22
of
23
The stables at Horse Guards: the horses are on a one hour rotation while on guard duty
This is an image
23
of
23
