Page 73 - RSDG Year of 2021 CREST

Cpl Ratuqalovi demonstrating how to put a horse in a headlock
at Tower Farm, two riders enjoyed a day in Dunkeld, providing both photo opportunities and education for the general public in attendance. Whilst the mounted troop in full scarlets heading-up the Regimental parade down the Royal Mile will always be a highlight, the true crowning achievement of this period was the Watering Order. Ten Greys and riders, all turned out immacu- lately, found themselves gathered on the Esplanade at 0600 the Wednesday before the Anniversary parade. Aimed at both familiarising the horses with the sights and sounds of the City (following their two year hiatus), and also drawing publicity to the upcoming parade, the Watering Order would take the ten-man mounted troop through the heart of the city before the morning rush hour began. Shamelessly ripping off the HCMR’s efforts in London, the Mounted Troop approached the internationally renowned Balmoral Hotel to see if they might be willing to host us for a quick coffee on Prince’s Street before our return to the horse boxes. Having very kindly agreed, it is safe to say that no one within the troop quite expected what Richard Cooke (the General Manager) and his team had in store for the Regiment. The route took the troop down the Royal Mile, then up towards the New Town, before looping back along Prince’s Street to the Balmoral, where the Colonel of the Regiment would be waiting to take a brief salute, wish the troop good morning, and where the riders were hoping to receive a coffee in a takeaway cup. Cpl Pragnell the Mascot Major, and Abbie McDowall from Tower Farm had taken up position at the hotel ahead of the troops arrival when they realised that we had per- haps been too modest in expectations. The proverbial horn was sounded and Tower Farm grooms came run- ning down off Castle Hill to hold horses. As the troop arrived, they were met by doorman holding silver buckets of carrots for the horses, and a breakfast spread of incredible generosity. When both mounts and rid- ers had enjoyed their fill, Richard invited the staff from Tower Farm in for breakfast, much to their delight. We
cannot express a deep enough gratitude for the hospi- tality of Richard and his team at the Balmoral – hope- fully this will be a relationship that will endure going forward. Appropriately warmed up, the mounted troop occupied its usual place, resplendent, at the front of the parade for SCOTS DG 50. Appropriately, the Regiment displayed for the first time it’s new Shabraque (mod- elled off the recently discovered design drawn when the Regiment was amalgamated but never tailored into fruition). GB Tailors in Redford went to great pains to deliver a Saville Row experience for Monarch, our lead horse, with both Billy and George working obscene hours to complete the blanket on time for the parade. The Regiment is incredibly fortunate to attract such dedicated and generous support from such individu- als across Scotland. With the exception of the horses and Regiment being too closely channelled by the large crowds on the esplanade (and a member of said crowd thinking it was appropriate to poke the bum of one of the horses), the parade went off without a hitch, and Tower Farm’s horses acquitted themselves splendidly as always.
Looking ahead to the busy FOE of 2022, it is hard to imagine such a large output from Equitation until the Regiment returns from Mali. All the same, the Sprot Cup is expected to run for a second time in the Borders, and the Regiment has been nominated for Equine Project of the Year award by the BHS. Suffice to say, greater things are expected to come, or at the very least continue. One again, thanks must be extended to all those that have enabled SCOTS DG equitation within the last twelve months, as well as to those whose work over the previous four years have led to such a prolific 2021.
Past the Balmoral
EAGLE AND CARBINE 71