News
The Duchess visits The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery
28th January 2010
The Duchess of Cornwall was treated to a horse-riding showcase today when soldiers displayed their equestrian skills.
During the visit to their barracks in London, members of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery provided a 40-minute demonstration featuring racing, jumping and competition.
One display - the mounted military skill at arms - featured the tradition of tent pegging and included soldiers picking up a peg from the ground with a sword as they rode past, bursting balloons with a revolver and slicing melons with a sword.
The mounted unit, which is The Queen's ceremonial Saluting Battery, is based at St. John's Wood and is home to 120 horses.
With names such as Colonel Chatterbox and Duke of Dazzleton, the horses were bought in Ireland and taken to London to be assigned roles for which they were best suited.
Known as The Troop, the Army unit's duties include the firing of Royal Salutes on state occasions, providing a gun carriage and team of black horses for state and military funerals and taking part in ceremonial events.
The soldiers showed The Duchess how they drive a team of six horses which pull the 13 pounder state saluting gun, built in 1904.
The Duchess, a keen horsewoman, chatted to the soldiers afterwards and told them how much she enjoyed the display in the riding school.
The Duchess was wearing a jade green coat over a beige spotted dress with brown knee-high boots and a brown clutch bag.
She patted 16-hand Cosmopolitan, who led the gun team alongside Crowthorne, as she spoke to lead driver Bombardier Robert Shenton.
At 14 years old, Cosmopolitan - who has the stable name of Penny – is coming to the end of her career and will retire this year.
Bombardier Shenton, 25, from Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, said: "It was very good meeting The Duchess.
"She was asking about the horse and if I am enjoying the job.
"She was impressed with everything.
"A lot of hard work and effort had gone into it."
He said he had been in the King's Troop for almost seven years and, having ridden only three times when he joined, had worked his way up to the position at the front of the gun team.
"I have done a lot of shows, a lot of salutes," he said. "It's hard work but you reap the benefits."