DUKE’S RESTIVE HORSE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1932, Page 7

DUKE’S RESTIVE HORSE

PLUCK OF KING’S SON. PARADE GROUND INCIDENT. Momentary alarm was caused in the course of the ceremony of Trooping the Colour by the Brigade- of Guards on the Horse Guards Parade in London 1 on June 4. The cause was the restiveness of the horse ridden by the Duke of Gloucester. While the King was taking the salute of the Guards the Duke had to withdraw from the parade temporarily. The Duke had obtained the horse for the occasion from the Household Cavalry stables. The horse plunged and kicked wildly, and for a moment it looked as though the Duke would be thrown. By fine horsemanship, however, he retained his seat, but the horse was still Out of control and lashed out with its hind legs, nearly striking the Earl of Athlone’s horse beside it. The King, who w-as riding in front, seemed not to have noticed the incident, but as soon as he returned io the saluting base and took up his position with the Royal Princes behind him, he beckoned the Duke forward.

The. Duke brought his horse to the King’s side, and although the animal was still in a nervous state and was pawing the ground as if ready to start shying again, the Duke saluted his father, riding with one hand. The King asked the Duke if he were all right, and if he could continue, and the Duke apparently assured him that all was well. The Duke of Gloucester resumed his place between the Duke of York and Lord Athlone. A moment later, however, his horse suddenly plunged again, and finally the Duke had to ride it off the parade ground to quieten it. After a moment or two he returned and spoke to the Prince Of Wales and the Duke of York. The King, in the uniform of Colonel-in-Chief of the Grenadier Guards, and looking very bronzed and fit, sat motionless on his brown charger while this little drama was being enacted behind him. Then Once more the Duke of Gloucester’s horse plunged and reared, upsetting the little line of Royal Princes. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York swerved their horses out of tho way. of the wild flying hoofs of the Duke’s mount, and the Duke of Gloucester, realising that his horse for the time being was unmanageable, again rode it off the parade ground.

The Prince of Wales rode forward to the King, saluted, and told him what had happened. , The King and the Prince exchanged a few words, and the Prince rode out to his brother’s assistance, to tell him that the King had given him permission to retire from the parade if necessary.

Twenty minutes later the Duke of Gloucester rode back to the parade ground and look his place with his brothers. He was riding the same horse, and in the interval he had exercised and quietened the frightened animal. The King noticed his return immediately aud beckoned him forward again. Except for this incident the ceremony went off with its usual clockwork precision.

Two supposed reasons for the horse’s restiveness were mentioned in reports in the London newspapers. One was that the horse’s saddlery at first included a crumpet to which it was not accustomed. The other Was that it took fright at the music of the massed bands.