The Drum Horse

The Musical Ride Officer leads on the display, closely followed by the Drum Horse, a Clydesdale or Shire breed, which naturally has a remarkable presence. Their coats are piebald, skewbald or roan.

They stand a minimum of 17 hands and weigh approximately 800 kg. They start their training from at least four years old and take about two years to train. The drums are gradually introduced to them over time and they are also taught to stand proud, a characteristic of The Drum Horse. Their shoes are always hand forged and require 16 to 19 inches of metal. They remain unclipped and their feathers, mains and tails untrimmed unless by order of Her Majesty The Queen. The silver drums that they carry on parade weigh 56 kgs each.