The sport of kings

The King’s Troop has had a monumental influence on equestrian sport. Julian Seaman takes stock of some of its luminaries

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THE past military influence in many of the competitive equestrian sports is sometimes forgotten. The most obvious is eventing, which came into being as an officers’ test at the start of the 20th century and for many years was referred to on the Continent as “The Military”. It became an Olympic discipline in 1912.

Showjumping, racing and polo all had a services’ following before the war, but a golden era was about to begin. It was therefore no big surprise that many of the administrators of these sports came from the armed services.

For more than 50 years, one unit has punched way above its weight in providing sport directors, stewards, team managers, performance directors and a host of other tasks and indeed in the competitive fields. That unit is The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

After the war, King George VI suggested that following the mechanisation of the last batteries of horse-drawn artillery, a troop should be retained for state ceremonies. The Riding Troop was reformed in 1946. The King suggested that a more apt name should be The King’s Troop, and in 1947 he amended the page in the visitors’ book, crossing out the word “Riding” and writing “King’s”.

On her accession, The Queen declared the name would be a permanent honour to her father. It is a six-gun unit with around 160 soldiers, 130 horses and just six or seven officers, but as you will see, this small pool has produced a plethora of equestrian luminaries over the years. Here are some of them.