Boot and Saddle    by JG Gilberd

Horses in the British Army Today

To conclude 'Boot and Saddle' I have included a section about horses on strength in the British Army (1989).

These animals are highly trained and used mainly for ceremonial duties. The Royal Corps of Transport still maintains two Animal Transport Coys currently serving in Hong Kong and Cyprus. Also the Royal Corps of Military Police use 45 horses for patrol duties at large Army establishments such as Aldershot. Of the 850 plus horses the Army has on its 'books' the main users are:

• Royal Army Veterinary Corps and Riding School at Melton Mowbray.
• Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, London.
• Two Household Cavalry Regiments, London.
• Royal Corps of Military Police
• Royal Corps of Transport
• Scots Dragoon Guards (Scots Greys)
• Remount Depot - Larkhill.

The RAVC purchases the Army's recounts from the Irish Republic. After the conclusion of World War 2 the Belgian Government supplied black horses for the two cavalry regiments for a few years.

Jim Gilberd, 1989

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