Horses and soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery took a well-earned break from their ceremonial duties in London recently and headed to Cornwall for a spot of hunting.
The Troop’s Right Section enjoyed its annual summer camp from 12-19 September, stabled at a dairy farm outside Polzeath on the North Cornish coast.
Under the command of Capt Harry Wallace, 25 soldiers and 27 horses made the most of the Indian summer.
In complete contrast to their working routine, the horses had daily gallops along the golden sands of Polzeath and swam in the sea.
They also enjoyed mornings with the Four Burrow hunt and North Cornwall hunt — and the Devon and Somerset Staghounds on their way home to London.
The North Cornwall met in the heart of Bodmin Moor where horses and riders relished the chance to let off steam across the outstanding countryside.
Capt Wallace said: “Whenever we go down we visit as much as we can — the horses love it.”
During their stay, the Right Section held a public open day at Carruan Farm, Polzeath, raising over £1,500 for Help for Heroes and the Army Benevolent Fund.
Capt Wallace added: “The Cornish beaches and moorland provide a wonderful getaway for our horses. The wide-open spaces allow them to have a proper gallop.”
This article was first published in Horse & Hound (1 October, ’09)
