Britain’s working horses will be honoured next month with a set of stamps issued by Royal Mail.
The set of six stamps features horses working in settings from the military to the police to forestry. When bought together, as a first day cover, they are accompanied by an envelope showing an image of a galloping Clydesdale.
The first class stamp celebrates the work of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), which provides therapy and enjoyment to almost 30,000 people a year.
The famous horses of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery are the subject of another stamp. This ceremonial unit has responsibility for firing gun salutes on state occasions and has delighted many horse enthusiasts with its musical drive demonstration.
Two Windsor Greys appear on the Royal Mews carriage horses stamp. They draw carriages bearing members of the Royal family on ceremonial and State occasions.
Police horses at work on the streets of London are featured on another of the stamps. Mounted police units have been under threat in recent years, due to budget cuts.
Heavy horses are honoured too. Shires from the Hook Norton Brewery in the Cotswolds appear on the 88p stamp. Hook Norton is one of the few independent breweries to still deliver beer by horse drawn dray to local pubs.
The set is completed with a forestry horse. Heavy horses are used for logging in environmentally sensitive areas. The £1.28 stamp depicts Tom, a 16-year-old Shire who is described as the “mainstay” of Ben May’s forestry and farming operation near Hatherleigh, Devon.
The stamps will be issued on 4 February and cost £13.95 for the set plus £1.95 P&P. A limited number signed by heavy horse enthusiast Martin Clunes are available at £13.95. For more details visit www.buckinghamcovers.com
