The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will perform alongside its French counterparts — the Mounted Band of La Garde Republicaine — for the first time at this year’s Royal Military Tattoo at Windsor Castle (12-15 May).
It is likely that the troops will only have one day’s rehearsal together before the 56 participants perform the 14-minute ride.
But Captain Mark Avison, riding master of the Household Cavalry, said: “I have a DVD of one of their performances to watch and we had a 10-minute meeting in France.”
The French mounted band performs in walk, which makes planning a display more tricky.
“If problems arise, I am sure we will be able to canter around them!” said Capt Avison.
The French will bring 27 chestnut cavalry horses and three grey drum horses.
A spokesman for La Garde Republicaine said: “The Mounted Band takes enormous pride in performing for The Queen at Windsor.”
Tickets, which include entry to the Royal Windsor Horse Show earlier in the day, start at £25 and are available on 08712 305570 or www.rwhs.co.uk.
This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (28 April, 2011)
