Duke of Edinburgh applauds equestrian excellence with presentations to the Army’s finest

The finest equestrians from The British Army, many fresh from riding at The Coronation just days before, have been starring and competing in front of Royalty and International Sporting Medallists at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

A highlight of the Mounted regiments’ calendar, the Show offers the opportunity not only to meet and compete alongside sporting heroes, but to demonstrate the unrivalled opportunities a career in the Army can offer people with a passion for horses.

A highlight of the annual horse show, that takes place in the glorious grounds of Windsor Castle, and was a favourite of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, are the breath-taking displays of military riding excellence that our soldiers and military working horses put on daily, for the visiting public and members of The Royal Family.

Preparations start very early in the year. Young soldiers fresh from training are selected to take part in their regiment’s showcase performance events. It’s a huge responsibility, requires dedication and determination, but the rewards of an appreciative crowd, and knowledge that they’ve worked as a team to pull off a magnificent performance, are a real boost to soldier confidence and self-satisfaction.

In addition, in February, Troopers from The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment competed in their barracks in Knightsbridge, to be judged ‘the best turned out Trooper’. The best eight finishers then went forward to Royal Windsor for their final inspection and to be awarded the coveted Princess Elizabeth Cup by a senior member of the Royal Family. This year His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh presented the Princess Elizabeth trophy to the winner, and rosettes to all the finalists.

It’s a huge moment for young soldiers, many of whom will never have ridden or cared for a horse before they joined the mounted regiment, and the prize is recognition not only of their discipline and attention to detail but also of their capabilities and bearing as a soldier.

The Competition was the idea of the Late Queen Elizabeth II when She was still just a young princess, hence the name. It was first awarded by Her at the Richmond Horse Show, which is why in Cavalry circles it is often referred to as the Richmond Cup.

The prize is not just an historic silver cup - all eight finishers – the four best troopers of The Life Guards and the four best troopers of The Blues and Royals - will have the career highlight and unique honour of escorting the King on His first Birthday Parade on 17 June.

This year the coveted Princess Elizabeth Cup for the Best Turned Out Trooper – “the best of the best”-  was awarded to Trooper Amy Brook of The Life Guards.

Amy, 21, from Huddersfield, studied Public Services at Barnsley College and originally had her eye on a career in the Police Force when she discovered she could pursue her passion for horses together with the operational challenge of armoured reconnaissance work if she joined the Army.

“I’ve got two horses at home, and have always loved horses, but I didn’t just want to work in a stables. I wanted a career that would offer me lots of variety, travel, the chance to really make a difference to people’s lives, something that would really challenge me. The Household Cavalry Regiment allows me to have all that and still have contact with horses. It just joined everything together for me,” she explained.

I’ve got two horses at home, and have always loved horses, but I didn’t just want to work in a stables. I wanted a career that would offer me lots of variety, travel, the chance to really make a difference to people’s lives, something that would really challenge me

TROOPER AMY BROOK, THE LIFE GUARDS

Amy’s parents Hilary and Michael Brook were in the audience when the winners of the Princess Elizabeth Cup were announced to the packed crowds. As the prize winners were announced in reverse order it soon became clear that Amy was going to be named somewhere in the top three. “I couldn’t be more proud of her” said Michael. “She’s worked so hard for this and deserves it, but it was really special to be here to see her get presented with the cup from The Duke of Edinburgh”.

“I genuinely didn’t know that I’d win” said Amy. “I was convinced one of the others would take the prize because everyone had worked so hard and looked incredible. I didn’t think it could be me, but I did want to make that top eight, just to prove I could do it.

“Everyone said it would be really hard – it’s one of the toughest tests we set ourselves in the Cavalry - but it’s taught me patience, resilience, the importance of attention to detail - how to recognise minor imperfections and put them right.  

Everyone said it would be really hard – it’s one of the toughest tests we set ourselves in the Cavalry - but it’s taught me patience, resilience, the importance of attention to detail - how to recognise minor imperfections and put them right

TROOPER AMY BROOK, THE LIFE GUARDS

“These are all skills I’ll take forward to my next job when I join the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment later this year, because they’re precisely the skills you need on the battlefield.

“It’s also taught me teamwork. I couldn’t have done this without the support of my Troop Corporal of Horse who got me through and gave me so much advice and help. It’s such a good feeling to be recognised and win!

“Also Troopers from The Blues and Royals have won the cup for a decade so I’m so pleased to bring it back for The Life Guards!”

Amy will take her place beside The King as the first female trooper to ride in the King’s Retinue of His first Birthday Parade. Women have won before when it was the Queen’s Birthday Parade, but being the first King’s Birthday Parade for 70 years this will be an historic moment, so feels extra special.

Then Trooper Brook is off to Germany where she’ll be performing the Musical Ride with her comrades at the Aachen World Equestrian Festival.

Amy has already been part of the Musical Ride daily performance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this year, under the watchful eye of fellow Life Guards Captain Elizabeth Godwin, who was the first female to commission into The Life Guards since the regiment formed in the 1650s.

“I joined to do armoured reconnaissance and deploy on operations. However, we all pride ourselves on being dual-role soldiers and conducting the ceremonial role is a great privilege” said Captain Godwin.

I joined to do armoured reconnaissance and deploy on operations. However, we all pride ourselves on being dual-role soldiers and conducting the ceremonial role is a great privilege

CAPTAIN ELIZABETH GODWIN, THE LIFE GUARDS

The Musical Ride originated in 1882 at The Royal Tournament when a mounted display team from the Household Cavalry performed a series of challenging manoeuvres taken straight from the battlefield to music. Moves that had ensured their combat success in the field were instantly transformed into an equine “ballet” of elegance and precision. These trusted guardians have been performing to the public ever since.

The focus on precise timing, coordination, detail and dressing to ensure that different components are all working together for one purpose, are curiously the same requirements for success in modern armoured reconnaissance warfare, and every soldier who takes part witnesses the improvements it makes to being a better battlefield soldier.

Captain Godwin explained: “Having to look after an entire other animal before yourself – feed it, water it, clean it and their kit – develops troopers with better organisational and time management skills, essential in the operational environment. There’s a rule in the Army: my weapon, my kit, myself. So administering a weapon comes naturally after you’ve had to look after an animal. And it makes you mentally robust.”

The troopers are often required to ride quite young and inexperienced horses on big parades when the eyes of the world are on them. This spotlight keeps soldiers sharp – there’s nowhere to hide, so every detail must be accurate and precise, and that’s exactly what they need in reconnaissance!

Also recognised for equine and military excellence this year was E Sub Section of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, who were awarded the “Best Gun Team” shield by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.  

Those very same Gunners, who at last week’s Coronation were firing the six Gun Salvo on Horse Guards Parade to mark the moment that The King was crowned, were performing the heart-stopping Musical Drive with their Gun Teams every day and during the evening in the Windsor Castle Arena. To pass out as a fully trained sub section horse that can undertake the regiment’s world renowned ceremonial duties as The King’s ceremonial saluting battery in London, each horse must complete two full performances of the Musical Drive perfectly, one in trot and one in canter – it’s not just the soldiers who are tested on their performance!

Dating back to 1897, many of the awe-inspiring manoeuvres on display have stayed the same, such as the “Scissors”, where Gunners gallop across each other at full speed, with horses only feet away from the speeding Guns and Ammo carriages. With one and a half ton Guns, no brakes and only the skill of the riders and their trusted relationship with their horses at play, it is a stunning example of horsemanship, coordination and timing.

The Royal Windsor Horse Show took place from 11-14 May 2023. It was first staged in 1943 to raise money for the war effort and is now the only show in the UK to host international competitions in Show jumping, Dressage, Driving and Endurance. With its regal status and glorious parkland setting, it is one of the favourite events of the year for all the mounted troops of the British Army, who, when they are not involved in ceremonial activity are deployed across the globe on short term training teams, from the jungles of Belize, to Kenya, the snows of Estonia or the deserts of Oman.