Double-decker stables and a hidden horse walker: is this Britain’s most compact yard?

Madeleine Silver's avatar
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Published In Features
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Trooper of the Blues and Royals washing his horse in preparation for the Blues and Royals Inspection the following day at Household Cavalry Regiments Barracks of the Household Cavalry Regiments in Knightsbridge in London in the UK on the 24th April 2017
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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

An early start: Troopers are on the yard in central London by 5.30am to begin mucking out the 211 horses
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

An early start: Troopers are on the yard in central London by 5.30am to begin mucking out the 211 horses

Military organisation: a white board matches up soldiers with their duties and horses for the day
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Military organisation: a white board matches up soldiers with their duties and horses for the day

‘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
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

‘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

Two officers exercise their horses up Rotten Row in Hyde Park in the bright spring sunshine
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Two officers exercise their horses up Rotten Row in Hyde Park in the bright spring sunshine

Soldiers return from ‘Watering order’, where horses are exercised around the streets of West London
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Soldiers return from ‘Watering order’, where horses are exercised around the streets of West London

Civilians who help exercise the horses in the early hours in Hyde Park head back into the barracks
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Civilians who help exercise the horses in the early hours in Hyde Park head back into the barracks

An outdoor school in Hyde Park provides another space for the horses to be kept fit
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

An outdoor school in Hyde Park provides another space for the horses to be kept fit

A horse walker is tucked into the smallest of spaces, used mainly for injured horses in need of rehabilitation
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

A horse walker is tucked into the smallest of spaces, used mainly for injured horses in need of rehabilitation

Meet Big Red: the drum horses are part-bred Shire or Clydesdale, and carry drums weighing 55kg and 65kg
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Meet Big Red: the drum horses are part-bred Shire or Clydesdale, and carry drums weighing 55kg and 65kg

The stables at Hyde Park Barracks are on two storeys, with The Blues and Royals upstairs and The Life Guards underneath
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The stables at Hyde Park Barracks are on two storeys, with The Blues and Royals upstairs and The Life Guards underneath

Chalk is used to make the white markings stand out, ahead of going on Queen’s Life Guard
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Chalk is used to make the white markings stand out, ahead of going on Queen’s Life Guard

Attention to detail: Trooper Beaumont of The Blues and Royals prepares his kit
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Attention to detail: Trooper Beaumont of The Blues and Royals prepares his kit

To prepare a new pair of boots, 2kg of beeswax is melted onto them using a blowtorch
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

To prepare a new pair of boots, 2kg of beeswax is melted onto them using a blowtorch

The forge is in high demand, with the regiment’s farriers shoeing up to 30 horses a day
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The forge is in high demand, with the regiment’s farriers shoeing up to 30 horses a day

Inspection time: an officer checks that all kit is in order at 10am before the soldiers go on guard
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Inspection time: an officer checks that all kit is in order at 10am before the soldiers go on guard

The soldiers head down The Mall, ready to change the guard at Horse Guards Parade
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The soldiers head down The Mall, ready to change the guard at Horse Guards Parade

The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals are on guard on alternate days
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals are on guard on alternate days

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
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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

Camera ready: tourists gather round to get a glimpse of this iconic tradition
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Camera ready: tourists gather round to get a glimpse of this iconic tradition

Captain Mulholland heads through the arch at Horse Guards, ready for the 4 O’Clock inspection
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Captain Mulholland heads through the arch at Horse Guards, ready for the 4 O’Clock inspection

Back in the stables at Horse Guards, where the horses rest while not on duty
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Back in the stables at Horse Guards, where the horses rest while not on duty

The stables at Horse Guards: the horses are on a one hour rotation while on guard duty
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

The stables at Horse Guards: the horses are on a one hour rotation while on guard duty

What a view: soldiers enjoy panoramic views of the captial from the tower that they live in
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

What a view: soldiers enjoy panoramic views of the captial from the tower that they live in

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Madeleine Silver
Madeleine Silver
Former features editor

A graduate from Durham University, Madeleine joined H&H in 2011 and became Features Editor — producing content across the magazine and website, including the popular inside back cover article ‘The horse that made me’ and the weekly ‘The best of my fun…’ interview. She has written on topics as diverse as hay making and headcams, to hot totty in the horse world and circus horses. Madeleine now works as a freelance feature writer for Country Life, The Telegraph, Horse & Hound, cntraveller.com, The Spectator and The Field, as well as writing obituaries for The Times.