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New arrival - Leonidas
The Home of Rest for Horses in Buckinghamshire is proud to present one of its most illustrious
new residents Leonidas, a former Drum Horse with the Household Cavalry.
This magnificent 24 year-old piebald stands at just over 16.3hh and is a welcome addition to
the existing contingent of military horses which have retired to The Home near Speen.
Leo (as he’s known) originally came from Ireland and spent his entire career in service with
the Household Cavalry. His Royal duties included guard duty in Whitehall , the daily Changing
of the Guard ceremony, escorting Her Majesty and the Royal Family and participating in riding
displays.
Having retired from military duties at the end of last year, Leo spent about six months at the
Defence Animal Centre, Melton Mowbray. This holding period is necessary in order for the
formalities for retirement to be concluded, formalities which include permission from Her
Majesty for a horse to be retired.
Household Cavalry Riding Master, Captain Dick Waygood, refers to Leo as "a super horse".
"He’s a great horse," he says, "rock steady on parade - never lets you down. He’s particularly good at the musical ride."
The musical ride is a display which the Cavalry takes around the country and abroad and involves 26 really fit horses performing to music.
According to staff at The Home of Rest for Horses, Leo is like "an overgrown puppy". In his retirement, he's been reunited with Janus,
an old friend from Cavalry days, and the two elderly horses are said to behave like playful schoolboys together.
Brigadier Jepson, Chief Executive of The Home adds "Leo can be quite mischievous but he has a great sense of occasion when it matters and can be relied upon to be on his best behaviour."
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