Equitation 001 started with much promise for all those members of the Mounted Regiment keen to participate in the various equestrian disciplines. With more shows and events listed than ever before, a great year lay ahead. January started well for Captains RG Waygood and CT Haywood being placed in indoor Show Jumping Competitions at Patchetts, Berkshire and Merrist Wood Equestrian Centres.
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All was going to plan, when in late February Foot and Mouth Disease struck the country and everything came to a stand still. The Aldershot Horse Show; our own two-day show for military units at the Household Cavalry Training Wing at Combermere Barracks; the Royal Windsor Show’s ever popular Services team jumping and Skill at Arms competitions and the Royal Tournament Showjumping, now held at the Defence Animal Centre (DAC) at Melton Mowbray, were all casualties. Life for the military competitor was looking grim. The horse world watched and waited. Then in early June with a reduction in the number of overall new cases, events and shows started again. Once we were able to start again, success came quickly with wins and placing for Captains RG Waygood and CT Haywood, SCpl Weller and LCoH Arkley. In July Captain RG Waygood took his best horse Master Fred to Luhmuhlen in Germany, a particularly tough 3 star, 3 Day Event. The partnership completed an exceptionally quick, clear cross-country round, which ended up as the best of the day. This caught the eye of the British Eventing committee, who accepted Captain Waygood and Master Fred’s entry for Burghley 4 star, 3-day event in Lincolnshire.
In mid August the Regiment went to Regimental Training Camp at Bodney Camp, in Norfolk, where we were allowed to hold all our normal internal competitions. Unfortunately Open Day was not able to take place, but the finals of the Showjumping and Skill at Arms competitions were as usual held on the last Sunday of Camp. The Life Guards Squadron won three out of the four competitions, almost mirroring The Blues and Royals results of 2000. In the Regimental Show jumping final, 1st place went to Tpr Forrester LG riding Wykham; the Five Bar went to the RHG/D Sqn with a tie between Captain OB Birkbeck riding Wellington and Lieutenant A Bazan from Argentina riding Ramilies. The last fence stood at 4 foot 10 inches. The Skill at Arms was won impressively by Lieutenant JR Greany, LG on Sterling, having only just passed out of Riding School. Tpr Bowyer also of The Life Guards won the Tent Pegging on Auriol. Members of the Riding Staff have also spent a lot of time this year qualifying young horses in pre-novice and novice competitions for 2002. Horses to watch for next season are, Assagi, Ardent, Agincourt, Zingharo, The Coach troop managed to purchase two new Gelderlander driving horses from Holland in the spring, and these are
now settling into their job well. Towards the end of the year the regiment was able to purchase a new vehicle suitable for weddings. It has a fold down canopy, so if it rains you will not arrive at your reception looking less than perfect. Major A D Dick the last adjutant at HCMR will have wished they made that purchase prior to his wedding earlier this year, when he and his beautiful new wife experienced the full joy of a wet summer day. At the time of going to print the indoor Showjumping circuit has now started, so once again the young horses and riders will be spending the Winter months going to shows in preparation to the Spring Hunter trails and shows of 2002. We hope for a successful and complete year without the disruption of Foot and Mouth
Both pictures show Capt CT Haywood, Riding Master, competing in the Open Class at the RMAS Hunter Trial on HMCRs Vengeful.
The last time a member of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment competed at this event was in 1979 when Captain Alwyn Varley of The Life Guards rode his charger Zing round the great course finishing in 8th place. All started well with Fred and Captain RG Waygood doing a very good dressage, finishing in the top third. The next day during the steeplechase phase, Fred unfortunately overreached, causing a nasty wound on the bulb of the heel of one of his fore feet forcing the pair to withdraw. Next year all being well they will go to Badminton.
Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
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