Page 9 - DATR Open Day 2023

both military and civilian qualifications for
all instructors when they leave here. There are approximately 52 riding instructors in
the British army, who serve the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Household Division and the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR). The horses here at the DATR are exercised every day for a minimum of an hour in a variety of disciplines with dressage, show jumping, and cross country being the key elements of training. This ensures they maintain the standards required to deliver the courses to the mounted troops.
The Army School of Farriery has two primary functions; it is the centre of training for all military farriers and is responsible for the foot care of all equines stationed at the DATR. There are 27 farriers within the army, comprised of 5 instructors here at the DATR, 14 farriers at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and eight farriers at the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The forge here at ETS is a purpose-built facility for the military farriery students and instructors. With seven fires and spacious linear open layout it is widely regarded as one of the best training facilities in the UK.
The training standards and facilities in the ETS are recognised worldwide as being of the highest quality. This recognition is supported by the British Horse Society and the Worshipful Company of Farriers who endorse several training courses provided by the
two schools. It has also been a busy year of competing for the instructors within ETS, the main highlights being the DATR team winning the military show jumping class for a second year in a row at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and the farriers competing at both at the national level in the Home International and at Stoneleigh park in an international event.
The maximum number of Military Working Horses we can hold at the DATR is 396, with 241 at grass rest and 155 within the stable complexes. Our average holding is normally around 140 and that includes Military Working Horses undergoing treatment. We hope that you enjoy your time here at the Open Day, please do come and visit the Squadron and see the day-to-day work of this unique and historic Unit.
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