Light Bay Wheeler c1980

Writing in his book ‘The King’s Troop’ (published 1984) Major Wallace, ex-CO, tells us that the Troop is allowed an establishment of 111 horses but in reality they have 120. Thirteen of them are officers’ chargers, the rest are ‘ride and drive’. Nearly all the army’s horses are bred and purchased in Ireland. The Household Cavalry only need black horses, greys for the trumpeters and band. But the King’s Troop need horses of a certain type and range of colours, light bay, dark bay, brown and black. The six guns are drawn by teams of six horses, each team called a sub-division. They range from light bays in A Sub-division, to blacks in F Sub-division. The front horses are called Leads and are the largest of the team at around 16 hands. the centre horses are around 15.3 hands and the sturdy Wheelers at the back are 15.2 hands. This photo from Major Wallaces’s book shows a light bay Wheeler of A Sub.

Regimental Details | RHA King's Troop