Page 87 - RAPTC Mind, Body & Spirit

Two and a half years in to the most surreal posting I could have envisaged. The Household Cavalry still never fails to amaze me with the pace of life and the constant ceremonial requirement which is provided to HM the Queen every day. The Regiment is made up of 2 Capbadges; The Royal Horse Dragoon Guards (RHG/D) more commonly known as the Blues & Royals and The Life Guards (LG). Both cap badges merged to make the Household Cavalry and are broken down in 2 Squadrons within Hyde Park Barracks.
The Household Cavalry have a daily commitment to Queens Life Guard (QLG) where soldiers will ride on Parade at Whitehall. Kit has to be of the highest standard and is rigorously inspected before being given permission by the Orderly Officer to ride on guard. What the public don’t see is the hours of attention to detail where individuals will stay up until the late hours of the evening to ensure their state kit is to the required standard. With most soldiers having never touched a horse before they join the Cavalry, the transformation these men make is commendable. With most soldiers on course growing up in inner cities to then completing an intensive 14 weeks in riding school making them a confident rider.
In what seems like a blink of an eye, over a 12 month period this unit has had heavy involvement in variety of different events such as the Queen’s Birthday Parade, Spanish State Visit, State Opening of Parliament, Major Generals Inspection, The Richmond Cup, The Royal Windsor Horse Show, CHOGHAM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting), Winter Equine Troop Support in Melton Mowbray alongside a colossal amount of investitures at Buckingham Palace. It truly is a unique place to try and implement and enhance PD when Equine welfare & Queens Life Guard (QLG) is the sole priority of the Regiment.
Alongside a few, but fantastic AAPTIs, we’ve forged and implemented a PD Directive which works around a hectic daily routine, with the Regiment starting work at 0530 everyday (including weekends) PT can be a difficult topic, especially alongside soldiers and officers who are already fatigued from a morning of laborious stable routine. When preparing the monthly PT program creativity is key so soldiers are receptive to what is being delivered. This way the CoC is more receptive to lessons being delivered around stable routine.
The best time to ‘Ambush’ the unit with competitions is at its annual Regimental Training camp which takes place at Bodney in Norfolk every July. Where other units have a CO’s PT competition which takes place every month, we deliver all sporting competitions over a month period which is fiercely contested and the CoC have massive buy in to all competitions taking place. This much needed time away from Knightsbridge is the one time of year where soldiers can relax from Equine duties and enjoy sport and mandatory morning PT which is creative and leaves them walking away with a smile on their face. For all the emphasis on Equine welfare and Queens Life Guard, we’ve been fortunate enough to enter as many sporting competitions as possible this year with the CoC being accommodating enough to release soldiers from the QLG Guard list to compete in sport both in LONDIST Competitions and UK South Sport. I’m dreaming big and currently have a massive ambition to enter a Boxing team into this year’s Hodgsons Horse competition which takes place at the RAC Centre in Bovington, something that hasn’t been achieved in recent years due to manning shortages and QLG commitments. Other sports which aren’t so common in the Field Army which are
Dressed to impress
Sgt Cumberbatch trying out the Alpine experience
85
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY MOUNTED REGIMENT
‘EXPECTATION VS REALITY’
Sgt (SI) C Cumberbatch RAPTC
standard practice here is Polo & Hunting, both of these sports are met with mild apprehension as it’s not a common activity to the average soldier but with the Regiments links to external Horse organisations, men from the Cavalry are given the chance to compete in sports which would cost eye watering sums to the civilian world.
Adventurous Training is something I’ve worked tirelessly on to ensure soldiers attend and were fortunate enough to spend a week conducting multi-activities on the South Coast in November last year. Precious time away from Knightsbridge can do wonders for young soldiers who work long and labour intensive hours. In January, every year the Household Cavalry put a massive emphasis on skiing for 3 weeks, this involves a few different disciplines with Nordic and Alpine trips taking place simultaneously. This was my first attempt at skiing whilst in the Army and is something that I’m already looking forward to next year.
Coming into my last year in Knightsbridge, I can honestly say I’ve never experienced anything quite like it. Looking at the months ahead I’m excited by the projects that lay waiting and have enjoyed my time serving the most traditional Regiment in the British Army.
No horses up here!