‘Lovely to see them galloping’: Household Cavalry and Kings Troop horses enjoy winter holiday

Hoofing a lovely time this Christmas As London gears up for the festive season, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) horses have been relocated from the capital to the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) for their annual winter break. Over 150 horses have been relocated to the DATR in Melton Mowbray for some well-deserved rest and recuperation. The HCMR horses are an iconic sight on royal and ceremonial occasions and enjoy a three-week vacation every winter at the DATR where they spend time grazing or galloping in the fields. Amongst the first to arrive were the Household Cavalry Drum Horses, Juno and Apollo. The Drum Horses are the most powerful horses in the regiment as when they are on parade they carry 300 pounds of equipment, including two kettle drums as well as the drummers themselves. Joining them on their winter break were horses from the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The horses take part in events such as Royal Salutes to mark occasions of State, including The King’s Birthday Parade, royal birthdays, and State Visits. The horses’ stay at the DATR is one of many programmed breaks from ceremonial duties enjoyed by the horses throughout the year.

(Image credit: Army)

More than 150 horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery are enjoying their Christmas holidays in Leicestershire.

Juno and Apollo, the Household Cavalry drum horses, were the first to arrive at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) in Melton Mowbray, but their equine colleagues from the two regiments were not far behind.

Hoofing a lovely time this Christmas As London gears up for the festive season, the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) horses have been relocated from the capital to the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) for their annual winter break. Over 150 horses have been relocated to the DATR in Melton Mowbray for some well-deserved rest and recuperation. The HCMR horses are an iconic sight on royal and ceremonial occasions and enjoy a three-week vacation every winter at the DATR where they spend time grazing or galloping in the fields. Amongst the first to arrive were the Household Cavalry Drum Horses, Juno and Apollo. The Drum Horses are the most powerful horses in the regiment as when they are on parade they carry 300 pounds of equipment, including two kettle drums as well as the drummers themselves. Joining them on their winter break were horses from the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The horses take part in events such as Royal Salutes to mark occasions of State, including The King’s Birthday Parade, royal birthdays, and State Visits. The horses’ stay at the DATR is one of many programmed breaks from ceremonial duties enjoyed by the horses throughout the year.

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Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.

‘Lovely to see them galloping’: Household Cavalry and Kings Troop horses enjoy winter holiday

The Army horses have a three-week winter holiday in the DATR fields every year.

“The horses’ stay at the DATR is one of many programmed breaks from ceremonial duties enjoyed by the horses throughout the year,” an Army spokesman said..

Equine veterinary officer Captain Bowman was there to meet the horses as they arrived.

“The horses are checked by the vet before they leave London and I carry out a second check on arrival to ensure they haven’t hurt themselves during the journey and that they are able to be safely turned out,” he said.

“Just like our soldiers, the horses need a well-deserved rest. It allows them to replenish their energy and lets them gallop and walk about freely which is important from a musculoskeletal point of view. It’s lovely to see them galloping and enjoying themselves in the field.”

The DATR has been involved with military animals since 1903, when it was a remount depot helping maintain requirement for trained horses in the British mounted regiments, including during the First World War.

Some of the horses in training are expected to make their public debut on the Major General’s Inspection in the middle of April.

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