Page 165 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
armoured Regiments to serve tours with the Mounted Regiment. At the barracks at Hyde Park, they join one of the Regiment’s three Squadrons. The two Sabre Squadrons, one of the Life Guards and one of the Blues and Royals, provide the Mounted Dutymen for ceremonial duties. Headquarter Squadron comprises personnel from both regiments and its main function is to provide support to the Sabre Squadrons.
Within Headquarters Squadron are the instructional staff and specialists such as cooks, farriers, drivers, medics, and of course, the Regimental Veterinary Officer and the Veterinary Assistant. The farriers, saddlers and riding staff have skills which are not applicable in the armoured regiments, so these are the only people who rarely, if ever, leave the Mounted Regiment. The Regiment has a daily requirement to provide the Queen’s Life Guard, (QLG) at Horse Guards. The two mounted sentries facing Whitehall are part of the QLG and will be familiar to everyone. The Sabre Squadrons assume this responsibility on alternate days. They provide a short Guard of twelve mounted personnel every day but supplement it with an Officer, Trumpeter and Standard Bearer when the Monarch is in residence in London. The QLG leave barracks at 1030 to arrive at Horse Guards at precisely 11 o’clock for the Changing of the Guard.
Before leaving, it is inspected, usually by the Adjutant, to ensure the turnout of horses and men is of the highest standard. This attention to detail is applied to all the Regiment’s activities. Whenever members of the Mounted Regiment are seen in public there have been many hours of cleaning, polishing, and grooming beforehand. The public duty is merely the visible culmination of this considerable effort. Other ceremonial occasions increase the requirement for men and horses many fold, and each appearance is preceded by several rehearsals to ensure that the performance is as immaculate as the appearance. On certain occasions over two hundred horses and men need to be turned out.
A typical year begins in the spring with the Major General’s Inspection, when GOC London District reviews the Regiment to ensure that it is fit to perform ceremonial duties. This is the only parade on which the Regimental Veterinary Officer is mounted. Also, in the spring there is usually a state visit. Here the Regiment provides a Sovereign’s Escort in London or at Windsor and also a small Captain’s Escort on another day. A second state visit takes place later in the year. May and June are busy months with the Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour) and its preceding rehearsals, Beating the Retreat, at which the mounted bands perform and for which an escort is provided. The last major ceremonial duty is for the State Opening of Parliament in November but before this is the Lord Mayor’s Show and there may be a Royal wedding or
funeral. There is also the Garter Service Ceremony at Windsor and Staircase Parties when the soldier’s parade in full kit but are dismounted.
There is much happening besides these vital duties. The Musical Ride forms in the spring and operates until the autumn providing displays at county shows and similar venues throughout the country. Typically, thirty horses and somewhat more men are involved. All are selected because they have deserved the experience, will enjoy it, and will benefit from it. Drum horses are often introduced to the excitement of the big occasion. A smaller contingent, of perhaps a drum horse and two trumpeters occasionally provide a presence at events such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at Longchamp.
Summer camp takes place for three weeks from late August, when QLG duties are assumed by the King’s Troop RHA. The entire Mounted Regiment moves to Bodney Camp in Norfolk. Various military training and exercises takes place, and the soldiers are able to improve their riding skills while enjoying show jumping, tent pegging and cross- country riding. Just as importantly, the horses selected for camp have a break from London and a variety of beneficial exercise. At this time, some of the older horses may just have a well-earned rest at grass. In the autumn twenty-thirty horses are sent to the DAC for winter training to spend several months being kept very fit, riding out, winter training, and competing. This develops athleticism and equitation skills in horses and riders. Most importantly, it is a useful settling and teaching exercise for younger horses, who cannot easily adapt to the restricted regime of ceremonial work.
For similar reasons men and horse in London practise for and compete in various mounted disciplines whenever time allows. Much of this participation is at an elementary level and is conducted within the Regiment for the benefit of the less gifted horses and riders. Soldiers, posted to Knightsbridge for the first time, need to learn to ride and then for what is almost a separate skill entirely, to ride in full ceremonial kit, carrying a sword and handling a double bridle. These soldiers spend twenty weeks in the Riders Troop to learn these skills.
With all the other Military duties required at the unit also to be completed it is easy to see that life at the Mounted Regiment is very busy indeed, for horses as well as men. Despite this, the horses enjoy life. In London and at Windsor every horse enjoys a regular routine and good husbandry.
Duties are carefully selected so younger horses may compete or spend a lot of time in the riding school,
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