Her Majesty The Queen has presented the formal classical name “Juno”, Goddess of marriage and childbirth, to the Household Cavalry’s first ever female Drum Horse who will pass off on the Trooping of the Colour Parade in two days’ time.
Her Majesty The Queen has presented the formal classical name “Juno”, Goddess of marriage and childbirth, to the Household Cavalry’s first ever female Drum Horse who will pass off on the Trooping of the Colour Parade in two days’ time.
The Welsh Shire Horse mare, known previously by her stable name, Willa Rose, has been training for her role leading the Mounted Band of the Household Cavalry in Royal Procession for two years. Saturday will be her official graduation parade when she will be given the rank of Major and established as the official drum horse of The Life Guards.
In the gardens of Clarence House, Her Majesty The Queen met eighteen hands high Willa Rose, who was presented in her full state ceremonial finery, carrying the priceless Silver Kettle Drums of The Life Guards Regiment. Riding her was the Equitation Warrant Officer Class Two Daniel Evans who has played a huge part in her training for the role, together with the Cavalry’s drum horse team.
Willa Rose
Willa Rose is ten years old and has a dappled, dark bay coat and four large white socks. Before she joined the Cavalry she pulled a cart on the Shire Horse Farm so training to be a drum horse was not straightforward.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Armitage, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment said: “When she first arrived in the regiment we weren’t sure she would make the grade but she’s taken to training and now I think she’s probably the best drum horse we’ve got! She has a lot of promise for a fantastic career. She’s steady on parade and she has real presence.”
When she first arrived in the regiment we weren’t sure she would make the grade but she’s taken to training and now I think she’s probably the best drum horse we’ve got! She has a lot of promise for a fantastic career. She’s steady on parade and she has real presence. Lieutenant Colonel Tom Armitage, Commanding Officer
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
Drum horses can take up to five years to train, so Willa Rose has broken all records in achieving the grade in a mere two years.
“She’s the full package, a fantastic looking animal, the perfect size and build for the job” said her groom Trooper Lewis Kane, 25, from Paisley, Scotland. “As soon as she started training she smashed it! She’s got a fantastic temperament, which is a key quality, and not what you normally see with mares.
“She’s taken every challenge in her stride. She’s been on every rehearsal for The King’s Birthday Parade and has been spectacular in every one. I’m sure Saturday will be the same,” he added.
Juno
Juno, the Roman Goddess, was Queen of the Gods but occasionally given to a jealous temper. Juno, The Life Guards drum horse, couldn’t be more different.
“When she’s being groomed, she loves a tickle, especially in the pits of her legs and she loves a good belly scratch. Her eyes close with happiness, and before you know it she’s grooming you back,” said Trooper Kane.
She’s the full package, a fantastic looking animal, the perfect size and build for the job Trooper Lewis Kane
Her Majesty has a close interest in Shire Horses and in 2018 visited the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm that bred Willa Rose, and her partner drum horse Apollo, who serves with the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals.
By tradition the British Army’s Drum Horses are given classical names when they complete their training and Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II chose a name from a shortlist. Previous names have included Hector, Leonidas, Janus, Spartacus, Constantine, Horatius and Mercury. Our current Drum Horses are named Perseus, Atlas and Apollo.
Her Majesty posed for a photograph with Juno and her drum horse team; Mr Hew Murphy, proprietor of the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm; and artist Mandy Shepherd, who had painted a portrait of Willa Rose for Her Majesty.
The next time The Queen will see Juno will be on The King’s Birthday parade on Saturday 17 June when she leads the Royal Procession down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade alongside Apollo, the drum horse of The Blues and Royals.
If you can see yourself in the Household Cavalry or as a Musician in the Army, start the journey here.