All the Queen’s horses parade through London in star style

So many breeds of horses were represented too – Spanish, American Quarter horses, Haflingers, Norwegian Fjords, Holsteins, Warmbloods, Traditional Cobs, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, Irish Sport Horses, Welsh Section A’s, Pure Arabs & British Miniatures aged between 4 – 27 years with some retired professionals and some rescues in the mix. 

Some of the team are professional competitors in all the variety of equestrian activities and some are just happy hackers but nothing could prepare them for the 500,000 people wanting to meet them in the crowds. They were all so brilliant stopping along the way at some of London’s most iconic landmarks to allow the crowd to stroke their horses and ask questions. It is hard to imagine that most of these horses/ponies rarely visit such crowded streets let alone walk between 250 watt speakers of blaring music, marching bandings in front and behind, giant character balloons floating past and having commentators get the crowds to cheer and chant! The crowds completely loved the horses and both adult & children’s faces was definitely a highlight that none of us will forget!

One of our riders Peter Green had only been riding for just over a year and for a special reason joined our team.  Peter wrote:

“In June 2015 we tragically lost our beloved and beautiful daughter Molly to suicide. All of her short life she was a horse rider, she started riding at 5 years old, she loved horses.  When she was 14 we managed to buy her a 2 year old who she named Rome. She taught him everything and he was soon winning various competitions. She adored him.  Our grief at her loss was matched by Rome, he knew. I made a promise to her that I would look after him, just as she did. With help from some of her friends I have done that, I started to ride and when I do I feel she is there with me, I feel like she can see and feel him through me. So I try to do all the things she did on him, I hack him, jump him (small fences!) Groom him and kiss him every day, just as she did. She was also so proud to have ridden him in the London New Years Day parade 2012.  I watched her that day and when I was initially offered the chance to do the same thing in 2015 as a tribute to her I couldn’t do it as I was not confident in my riding ability, Caroline Marsh and her team then said I could do it this year and I accepted. I wanted to do it for her, as a tribute to Molly and her memory and more importantly so she could feel that excitement and joy of riding through central London again. It was a very proud and emotional day for me as I represented her.”

Another rider, Mick Foulds from Suffolk is 64 and lost his legs in an accident at work 9 years ago. He was back on Kaz just a few days after getting his first set of prosthetic legs! Kaz is an Appaloosa gelding, and will be 24 years old in April. Mick rode western style before the accident, and continued to compete in Rodeos (barrel racing and other speed events as well as more sedate classes) until retiring Kaz about a year ago. Mick previously served in the military and has been helped by various military charities, in particular BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association), and so he wanted to recognise BLESMA on the Parade by wearing a BLESMA jacket. Mick now continues to inspire other disabled military veterans by encouraging them to have a go at horse riding. The western style is very good for both leg and arm amputees. He recently led a group of six BLESMA amputees travelling to Arizona for a week at cowboy school.

At the end of the parade our team was met by Liam from the Household Calvary who kindly posed for photos with us and escorted us down the Mall to Buckingham Palace this was such an honour.

In summary this was once again day to remember forever for all of us.

By Karen Brett-McGee

www.allthequeenshorses.co.uk