Horse Furniture

To better understand the Horse Furniture of the
Household Cavalry, I have detailed the furniture (and
other associated information) Regimentally.

To find the one you want,
Click on the relevant link below.

Drum Horse of The Blues And Royals in Rehearsal Order

Mounted Review Order

Head Kit

Black Leather with a Brass Acorn Headpiece, which has
a Star design at the front.

The special Bit is Nickel Plated with Brass Bosses of Regimental pattern.
Plain ring Bridoon.

Lip Chain of Stainless Steel.

Collar Chain

Stainless Steel, it has rings spaced at intervals throughout its 10 foot length.

Breaststraps and Plate Saddlery

Black Leather, it has a Star and Garter Ornament in White Metal
decorated with Gilt, Red and Blue Enamel.

Saddle of Regimental pattern.
Holsters of Brown Leather, blocked pipe pattern with Black Leather Straps.
Stirrup Leathers are Black. Stirrups are flat sided and bar topped.
They are Nickel Plated. Stirrup Slides are plain Brass of Regimental pattern.
Girth is of White Webbing with Buff Straps. It has Black Leather Surcingle Straps.
Surcingle of Brown Leather with a Brass Buckle.

Shabracque

Dark Blue Cloth. In length, it is 48 inches at the bottom by 32 inches in depth.
The foreparts and hind corners are rounded. It has a Scarlet Cloth border,
which is 5 inches wide and set in 1.25 inches from the edge.
The Lining is Doeskin, except the hindquarters which are in Black Morocco.

The embroidery is in Gold and Silver, as follows:

Foreparts - Battle Honour Scrolls before 1914.

Hindquarters - Battle Honour Scrolls after 1914, with Laurel Leaves
encompassing the Garter Star, surmounted by the Royal Crest.

Offside - 1939-1945

Nearside - 1914-1918

The Flounce - is of White Goatskin, and the Wallet Cover is in one piece
with the rest of the Shabracque.

It is secured by Black Leather Straps.

Mounted Guard Order

As for Mounted Review Order, except the Bridoon Rein of Black Leather;
Black Bearskin is worn over the Saddle, instead of a Shabracque,
and the Breastplate has a Regimental Ornament.

No 1 Dress Mounted Order

Regimental Headkit, with Brass Headstall and stripped Saddle,
Collar Chain, and Guard Order Breastplate.

When competing in Horse Shows, a stripped Headkit, stripped Saddle,
Universal Bit, and White Headrope and Stirrup Bosses are used.

The alternatives are Hunting Irons or complete civilian Saddlery.

Service Dress Mounted Order

Brown Leather Headkit, with Universal Bit and White Headrope.
No Brass Headstall, Breastplate, Stirrup Bosses or Wallets. White Girth.

Escort Rehearsal Order

Regimental Headkit, with Brass Headstall, Collar Chain, Guard Order Breastplate,
State Bits, and Stirrup Bosses.

Mounted Review Order

Head Kit

Black Leather. The Head Stall has two rows of Brass Plates which have
cut Steel Studs, there being a large Plate at each end with similar Studs.
Of Plain Leather, the Headpiece has a Brass Shield Front.
The special Bit is Silver Plated with plain Brass Bosses. Plain ring Bridoon.
Brass Ornaments of Regimental pattern are fitted.

Collar Chain

Stainless Steel, it has rings spaced at intervals throughout a length of 5 feet 6 inches.

Breaststraps and Plate Saddlery

Black Leather, it has a Brass Boss bearing a Crown over the Garter,
with a scalloped Centrepiece in Steel.
Saddle of Regimental pattern.
Holsters of Brown Leather, blocked pipe pattern with Black Leather Straps.
Stirrup Leathers are Black. Stirrups are flat sided and bar topped.
They are Silver Plated.
Stirrup Slides are plain Brass of Regimental pattern.
Girth is of White Webbing with Buff Chapes.
It has Black Leather Surcingle Straps.
Surcingle of Brown Leather with a Brass Buckle.

Shabracque

Scarlet Cloth. In length, it is 50 inches at the bottom by 35 inches in depth.
The foreparts are rounded, and the hind corners pointed. It is trimmed
with two Stripes of Gold Oak Leaf Lace of Regimental pattern, all round.
The outer Stripe is 3/4 inch wide and the inner is 1 inch wide,
with 1/4 inch of Dark Blue Cloth between them.

On each corner, there is a Crown with the Battle Honour Scrolls and Oak Leaves
embroidered in Gold and Silver, with en embroidered Garter Star set below:

Both Forecorners - Battle Honour Scrolls before 1914.

Near Hindcorner - Battle Honour Scrolls 1914 - 1918.

Off Hindcorner - Battle Honour Scrolls 1939 - 1945.

The Flounce

This is of Black Lambskin, and the Wallet Cover is in one piece
with the rest of the Shabracque.
It is secured by Black Leather Straps.

Mounted Guard Order

As for Mounted Review Order, except that a Black Sheepskin is worn
over the Saddle, instead of a Shabracque, and the Beard is not used.

No 1 Dress Mounted Order

Regimental Headkit, with Brass Headstall and stripped Saddle, Collar Chain,
and Guard Order Breastplate.
Other instructions for when competing in Horse Shows are as for The Life Guards.

Service Dress Mounted Order

Instructions as for The Life Guards, except for the Girth which is Blue Web.

Escort Rehearsal Order

Regimental Headkit, with Brass Headstall, Collar Chain, Guard Order Breastplate,
State Bits, and Stirrup Bosses.

Head Kit

Special Head Collar, with Brass Ornament on the Brow Band, and a
Cross Piece from the Brow Band to the Nose Band.
Bridoon Bit (LG Officers) complete with Head Piece. Portsmouth Bit (LG Officers).
Bit Head Piece (LG Officers) with a Brass Ornament of Acorn design and a Star Side Piece.
Leather Cheek Pieces (LG Officers). Gold Lace Throat Lash with a Red and Black Beard.
Collar Chain (LG Officers).

      

Above (left):  Beards of LG Drum Horse (red and black) and RHG/D Drum Horse (red).
Above (right):  Detail of LG Drum Horse beard.

Reins

Gold Lace attached to the top 'D' of the Bit (hanging).
Portsmouth Leather Bit Reins (to hand). Two Gold Lace Bridoon Reins (to Stirrups).

Breastplate

Star and Garter design, decorated with Brass Ornaments from the Star to the Saddle.

Saddlery

Special pattern. Drum Pads. Stirrup Leathers.
Stirrup Leather Brass Ornaments (LG Officers). Stirrups (LG Officers).
Girth (Household Cavalry Officers). Surcingle (Household Cavalry Officers).
Special Ornamented Crupper, with Side Pieces.

Shabracque

Crimson, round cornered half Shabracque, worn over the Saddle.
It is embroidered with the Garter Star and Battle Honours.

Sheepskin

Half white pattern, which is worn over the Shabracque.

Drums

Regimental Silver Drums.

Banners

Household Cavalry pattern for Drums.

The Horse Furniture for the Drum Horse of The Life Guards - Rehearsal Order
is exactly the same as for Full Dress (above), with the following exceptions:

There is no Shabracque or Sheepskin.

Black Leather foot reins replace the Gold ones.

There are no Gold Ceremonial hanging reins.

There are no Banners on the Practice Drums.

NOTE: No Music Pouch is carried with either Full Dress or Rehearsal Order.

Head Kit

Special Head Collar, with Brass Ornaments on the Brow Band to Nose Band,
with a detachable Throat Lash.
Plain ring Bridoon Bit. Bridoon Cheek Pieces.
Portsmouth Bit (RHG/D Officers). Bit Cheek Pieces. Brass Head Piece Ornament.
Gold Lace Throat Lash with a Red Beard set in. Crown and Garter Star Device.

Above:  Detail of RHG/D Drum Horse beard.

Reins

Gold Lace Bit Reins (to hand). Two Gold Lace Bridoon Reins (to Stirrups).

Breastplate

RHG/D Officers' pattern, decorated with a Brass Ornament from the Boss
to the Connecting Straps.

Saddlery

Special pattern Saddle. Drum Pads. Stirrup Leathers.
Stirrup Leather Brass Ornaments (RHG/D Officers). Stirrups (RHG/D Officers).
Girth (Household Cavalry Officers). Surcingle (Household Cavalry Officers).
Special Ornamented Crupper, with Side Pieces.

Shabraque

Crimson, pointed half Shabracque, worn over the Saddle.
It is embroidered with the Garter Star and Battle Honours.

Sheepskin

Small black pattern, which is worn over the Shabracque.

Drums

Regimental Silver Drums.

Banners

Household Cavalry pattern for Drums.

As for Full Dress, less the Shabracque, and with Leather Reins
instead of those made from Gold Lace.

Practice Drums are carried.

NOTE: No Music Pouch is carried with either Full Dress or Rehearsal Order.

Head Stall - Bright Chain - Peninsula Bit.
Sheepskin (White - LG / Black - RHG/D) - Stirrup (Boss above neck).

Below:  Black and red beard of Life Guards Trumpeter's horse.