The Horse Trust welcomed five very special new residents last week (3 August), who have retired from the military after many years of service.
Amongst them is one of the longest serving military horses still alive today. Twenty-six-year-old Remus started his service as a troop horse in the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, before becoming an officer’s charger in the Household Division.
Lochnagar, who arrived from the Defence Animal Centre, was a successful showjumper as well as a military mount. ‘Lochy’ won the Services Cup at the Olympia three years in a row – the most recent win being last year at the age of 15.
The three remaining horses came from The Blues and Royals Squadron of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London. Commando (aged 15) has served at every high profile parade since 2002 and is one of few horses to have served on the Royal Wedding and both the Golden and Diamond Jubilee parades.
His stablemates are 23-year-old Union and 18-year-old Zulu, who joined the Household Cavalry at the tender age of four. Union was a real squadron favourite, and during his 18 years of service he worked on state escorts, the Queen's Life Guard, and was also been used by corporal majors because of his steadiness on parade.
The Horse Trust CEO, Jeanette Allen said: “We are delighted to be offering a tranquil retirement to such long serving and hardworking horses. The Horse Trust has been taking in retiring army horses since the First World War and we are immensely proud of our long relationship with the armed forces.”
There was an official handover event at the Horse Trust centre in Speen, Buckinghamshire, attended by Captain Roly Spiller, of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and Lieutenant Colonel Richard Pope, from the Defence Animal Centre.
“After one of the busiest ceremonial seasons of recent years, the regiment wishes the horses a long and happy retirement at the Horse Trust," said Captain Spiller.
Advertisment(?)
