Musical Ride 2005 By Captain R J Moger, The Blues and Royals s the officer commanding the Musical Ride, there are a number of times throughout the year when it becomes necessary to disseminate a list of Ride commitments for the forthcoming period to those who ‘own’ those will be in the Ride. Visits from the Ride officer are about as welcome as from the Grim Reaper himself, as the start of the Ride’s season heralds the loss of able men for large periods of the year that are never quiet for the squadrons. It is thus a case of handing over a list of dates, listening to the problems that invariably arise and then walking out and on to the next office to repeat the exercise. True to form, the 2005 season caused its fair share of angst and yet, in hindsight, it has been a fantastic success starting with the Patchetts Show in May and rounding (or perhaps riding) off to a standing ovation at Olympia in December.
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There have been a few changes in personalities during the year including Captain A H James LG and SCpl Bell MC RHG/D, the Ride Officer and Ride Corporal of Horse respectively. However, the ever scrupulous Riding Master, Captain R G Waygood LG, ensured that quality was a consistent feature of the Ride performances. The routine has also been brought up to date, and it now increases the role of the ‘monkeymen’. Among other skills, they jump lances and stand on saddles for periods of the performance. This has gone down very well with audiences indicated by the applause at the sight of the Ride galloping out of the arena pursued by the ‘monkeymen’ carrying the flags of the four nations of the United Kingdom, to the strains of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. This finale music was not the choice of some of the Ride who rather curiously would have preferred to close the shows to ‘It’s raining men’...each to their own I guess.
at Guards Polo Club in July. The Chatsworth Show signalled the onset of August and another excellent series of performances by the Ride, although LCpl Pope LG’s effort to get out of the Ride by ‘slightly’ damaging his car was considered a poor attempt. August also provided a good opportunity for the Riding Staff and particularly for CoH Adams LG to run a B2 riding course, which many of the Ride successfully completed. To suggest that the Ride was saving the best to last would be infair given the overall success of the 2005 season; however the London International Horse of the Year Show at Olympia drew accolades on a scale seldom witnessed in the history of the Musical Ride. The newly choreographed Ride including the flagbearing, saddle-standing ‘monkeymen’, was broadcast in its entirety on live television by Eurosport and was featured in a highly complimentary article in Horse and Hound. With CoH Ashdown RHG/D working busily to ensure the smooth coordination of events behind the scenes, the men of the Ride performed to the very highest standard in the limelight of the main arena, completely eclipsing the preceding display of dressage by the stylishly chic Garde Republicaine from France. The new members of the Ride including Tprs Evans RHG/D, Veness RHG/D and Har-
ris LG slotted in effortlessly. CoH Adams made his first successful appearance as a ‘monkeyman’, and thankfully the split in his breeches did not lead to the appearance of any other attentiongrabbing part of his anatomy. The Commanding Officer decided to make an appearance, not only requisitioning the Ride Officer’s horse for one performance, but also up-staging him by following the ‘monkeymen’ through the corridor of lances held aloft by the sixteen outriders. The Ride welcomed many people as visitors to their stables, though the greatest interest was undoubtedly shown by The Duchess of Cornwall, who spent a considerable time meeting both men and horses. It was a pleasant way to end both a fantastic week and round off an outstanding season, and was a fitting tribute to all the hard work and commitment demonstrated by every member of the Ride throughout the year,
As for ‘raining men’, the only involuntary dismount of the year was by Tpr Jani LG at The Hertfordshire County Show in May, though the new Ride Officer, Captain R J Moger RHG/D, might also have been included in this small group if anyone had actually spotted him roll off his fallen horse behind the scenes at Olympia. No one did, so the event will remain unrecorded. After the pleasant season opener at the Patchetts Show, the Ride revelled in the early summer sun at Royal Windsor during May, while the Drum horse and trumpeters wallowed in the torrential downpours at the Cartier International
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Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
The Musical Ride at Chatsworth House, August 2005.