Trooping the colour

FanyDuChamp

FanyDuChamp

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Just watching the Trooping of the colour, the horses are gorgeous! They are so patient and smart, but I was surprised to learn from another member on here that they do ont get a pension or really any security after they retire. I think that it is a shame. I also love the drum horses. All the horses seem to be totally bombproof, I remember Burmese when the guy fired at the Queen, she just spooked a little and carried on.
Has anyone a picture of that lovely mare ? She was part Hano wasn't she?


What do other people think of the ceremony?
 
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I enjoy it :)

Some of the horses go the charities - the Horse Trust have a couple. They also have a couple of charity horses - Digger and Penny - who as far as I'm aware will go back to the charity when they retire. Some of the horses are bought by their riders - I know at least one guy who still has his oldie - and CavBlacks knows about how the others are rehomed I think? I think you go on a waiting list or something.:)
 
I've been sat glued to the telly watching in the hope of spotting my nephew parading and also my friends son in the Massed Bands :D


I'm watching it on the red button to see the Gun Salute and the Fly Past by the RAF :D :D
 
Yeah, most of them are actually bought by their riders. But those that arent are re-homed. You have to write to the DAC in Melton and be put on their waiting list - I think it is about 2 years at the mo.
 
I believe there is one of the horses at WHW Penny Farm, the troop came and did a display at their open day last year.

I love watching it. We certainly to pomp and ceremony like no other :).
 
quirky said:
I believe there is one of the horses at WHW Penny Farm, the troop came and did a display at their open day last year.

I love watching it. We certainly to pomp and ceremony like no other :).
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That would be Penny;) - she was at Badminton too in the arena display (which I missed thanks to the poopy traffic:mad:). I drove in just as they were all leaving the ring:(

And Digger the Clydie is in training to be a drum horse:)
 
They do all look very shiny but when you see them close up they don't look that great actualy, some are quite ribby and many have almost no topline. By the time they are retirement age (around 25 if I remember correctly? Might be wrong) if they are still workable they find good homes. If they are broken they are pts, the amount of work on hard ground they usually do does take its toll on the joints and they are often broken before they get to retirement age. However, they are attended to regularly by excellent vets and a great team of farriers so there isn't a great deal of suffering (if you agree with horses stabled 23 hours a day). This would be a great one for the barefooters actually- see how well these horses do without shoes!!
 
We have a Garrison riding school near by (open to the public to ride at and livery) and they have just been given a cavblack that didnt make the grade as he didn't grow tall enough. The Paras also keep their Shetland mascot there.
 
Farrierlover said:
They do all look very shiny but when you see them close up they don't look that great actualy, some are quite ribby and many have almost no topline. By the time they are retirement age (around 25 if I remember correctly? Might be wrong) if they are still workable they find good homes. If they are broken they are pts, the amount of work on hard ground they usually do does take its toll on the joints and they are often broken before they get to retirement age. However, they are attended to regularly by excellent vets and a great team of farriers so there isn't a great deal of suffering (if you agree with horses stabled 23 hours a day). This would be a great one for the barefooters actually- see how well these horses do without shoes!!
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Humm... I dont necessarily agree that they look 'ribby'... they are fit working horses. I am a seasoned campaigner of most horses in the UK are hugely overweight. I would say that the military horses are probably perfect....

They usually retire between the ages of 16 - 20. The heavy gun horses usually retire to the earlier end, and the general riding horses to the older end of that scale. They do have a heavy life BUT (like you said) they are attended to by first class farriers and vets :-) . Many do actually come out and have a long happy retirement as a riding horse - there is one who was recently PTS who I believe spent longer in retirement than he did working(I do think he was one of these ancient old bu**ers with attitude that seem to last forever!!!)!

And yes, they are stabled alot - 23 hrs a day when they are in London, but then they do get an annual 'holiday' of 24/7 turnout and when they are in training at the DAC in Melton they get more turnout than they would in London.

They are a collection of fine looking animals and they guys and girls that produce them do a wonderful job.

Sorry - I may be biased! I have worked with the DAC vets and farriers and have 2 friends in the Blues and Royals!!! They are genuinely incredible though.
 
studentvet said:
Humm... I dont necessarily agree that they look 'ribby'... they are fit working horses. I am a seasoned campaigner of most horses in the UK are hugely overweight. I would say that the military horses are probably perfect....

They usually retire between the ages of 16 - 20. The heavy gun horses usually retire to the earlier end, and the general riding horses to the older end of that scale. They do have a heavy life BUT (like you said) they are attended to by first class farriers and vets :-) . Many do actually come out and have a long happy retirement as a riding horse - there is one who was recently PTS who I believe spent longer in retirement than he did working(I do think he was one of these ancient old bu**ers with attitude that seem to last forever!!!)!

And yes, they are stabled alot - 23 hrs a day when they are in London, but then they do get an annual 'holiday' of 24/7 turnout and when they are in training at the DAC in Melton they get more turnout than they would in London.

They are a collection of fine looking animals and they guys and girls that produce them do a wonderful job.

Sorry - I may be biased! I have worked with the DAC vets and farriers and have 2 friends in the Blues and Royals!!! They are genuinely incredible though.
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I do see your point about fat horses but there are many in the regiment that frankly, need more feed than they are getting. They may get an annual holiday but they are turned away (in winter) without hard feed or supplements and not roughed off correctly. When they are in training of course they get turned out- and also if they are on "hunting duty" in Melton but this is not for every horse. Please don't get me wrong, I am not a bunny hugger who thinks horses should have 50 rugs and a mountain of feed daily but the old "horsemen" who used to run the horse lines are long gone, most of the soldiers there are forced to be there between tank duties, I doubt that even 50% of them know very much about nutrition or the correct way of working horses. Again, I'm not saying they beat the horses or starve them and I'm sure they are very attached to the individuals but the management could be better.
 
Oh dear Teapot, we're going to have a fight!!! ;):) I want Burniston too.
She's absolutely gorgeous, stood like a rock just watching proceedings.
 
I had a CavBlack that didn't make the grade, he was an absolutely beautiful horse. He always remained the property of the military and in their correspondence to me was always called by his number rather than his name, but to all intents & purposes he was mine and the although the MoD reserved the right to visit him at any time in reality they had absolutely nothing to do with him. I informed them when he was pts and apart from when I bought him that was the only correspondence we ever had.
 
Daffodil said:
Oh dear Teapot, we're going to have a fight!!! ;):) I want Burniston too.
She's absolutely gorgeous, stood like a rock just watching proceedings.
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Noooo, don't worry, I'm a lover not a fighter!

Farrier Lover, I accept your point that the guys that are there do have other duties. BUT I'm sorry, I dont agree that the horses welfare is compromised - there are so many experienced horsemen that look over the horses and instruct them to a very high level. I think that - for the environment that they are in - the horses are allowed to exhibit a large degree of normal behaviour. Also, should probably be noted - I am not one for stabling horses. All of my eventers are out 24/7 365 days a year. The idea that they are in 23 hours does not sit too comfortably but I understand that these horse serve a duty and that that is necessary.

Personally, from my experience, for the numbers of horses that they collectively own, they keep them in a fabulous condition. I agree that there reigeme will not suit all horses but for the majority (which is what you've got to cater for with those numbers) they do ver well. If I had to come back as a horse, there could be alot of worse places to be than a DAC horse!
 
sonjafoers said:
I had a CavBlack that didn't make the grade, he was an absolutely beautiful horse. He always remained the property of the military and in their correspondence to me was always called by his number rather than his name, but to all intents & purposes he was mine and the although the MoD reserved the right to visit him at any time in reality they had absolutely nothing to do with him. I informed them when he was pts and apart from when I bought him that was the only correspondence we ever had.
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Maybe for reference they would refer to them by number but, I can assure you that on a day to day basis all of the horses I have ever seen have most definatley been referred to by name!
 
Studentvet- perhaps we must agree to disagree! I also am not a stablelover and I'm not sure what you mean about exhibiting natural behaviours? When there are a large amount of horses at the Knightsbridge barracks most of the horses are tethered in standing stalls. They cannot eat all the time and cannot wander, cannot groom or otherwise associate with other horses. They do have good quality feed, haylage, clean beds and fresh water but I'm sure we all agree there should be more to it than that. Unfortunately, there is no other option with these horses as they must live and work in central London and of course they can and do live to a ripe old age but perhaps this is in spite of rather than because of their management?

They have one day off a week. What do they do on this lovely and well earned day off? They stand in their boxes. If you walk down the horse lines you will find several that are need of more condition. The horses are usually fed a set amount unless they are dieting (and why should they have to diet when they only get the feed that was given to them?) and this is true for the ones that look great and the ones that look poor, nobody is that bothered about feeding as per type of horse.
 
Farrierlover said:
Studentvet- perhaps we must agree to disagree! I also am not a stablelover and I'm not sure what you mean about exhibiting natural behaviours? When there are a large amount of horses at the Knightsbridge barracks most of the horses are tethered in standing stalls. They cannot eat all the time and cannot wander, cannot groom or otherwise associate with other horses. They do have good quality feed, haylage, clean beds and fresh water but I'm sure we all agree there should be more to it than that. Unfortunately, there is no other option with these horses as they must live and work in central London and of course they can and do live to a ripe old age but perhaps this is in spite of rather than because of their management?

They have one day off a week. What do they do on this lovely and well earned day off? They stand in their boxes. If you walk down the horse lines you will find several that are need of more condition. The horses are usually fed a set amount unless they are dieting (and why should they have to diet when they only get the feed that was given to them?) and this is true for the ones that look great and the ones that look poor, nobody is that bothered about feeding as per type of horse.
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Hummm... whilst I agree that living in cerntal London isn't ideal for them - like we have both said- they have to. They are serving a duty. I do disagree that no-one is bothered feeding to type... and I say that they can exhibit natural behaviour whrn they are not in Kensington barracks - some non-military horses are not fortuanate enough to get even that break.

Agree to disagree?!?
 
studentvet said:
Hummm... whilst I agree that living in cerntal London isn't ideal for them - like we have both said- they have to. They are serving a duty. I do disagree that no-one is bothered feeding to type... and I say that they can exhibit natural behaviour whrn they are not in Kensington barracks - some non-military horses are not fortuanate enough to get even that break.

Agree to disagree?!?
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Agreed! You have some very good points (as do I of course ;)) and they certainly have more luxuries than many other horses so I concur that they are not welfare cases! Laid to rest now :) and no hard feelings?
 
Goodness no! It is nice to have a friendly debate about these things. That's how we become better horsewomen.You're right, you did have some very valid points - I shall certainly be scrutinizing the feed carefully next time i'm in Melton now!!!

Isn't it nice (for once on here!!!) that we can have different views and not resort to hostility and personal insults!
 
Farrierlover said:
Phew! Of course Melton is a completely different kettle of whatsnames- it's Knightsbridge where all the skinny ones are! :D
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Oh, of course! But I just go to Melton. The city scares me - much better in the middle of nowhere! Still, I will be keeping an eye out for the 'one size fit's all' approach to feed...
 
Heard Clare Balding say that the Field Commander of the Household Cav. was lriding a very awkward mare called Agincourt and that when he left he was buying her as their bond was so strong.
 
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