Upholding standards, maintaining tradition: Light Cavalry HAC passes annual inspection

Members of the Light Cavalry Honourable Artillery Company have proved they are fit for role for another year after passing their annual inspection.

While the HAC is based at Armoury House in Islington, the men and women of the squadron paraded at Windsor Great Park, where its horses are stabled.

The whole squadron is inspected as a ceremonial sub-unit of the HAC each year to ensure it is fit to carry out its duties within London District (Londist), the British Army's area of operations encompassing the Greater London area.

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Two troops, one squadron

Past inspecting officers have included the Chief of the General Staff, GOC Londist, the Duke of Edinburgh, when he was Earl of Wessex, and Prince Michael of Kent.

The Light Cavalry HAC is one of the two HAC ceremonial sub-units, the other being the Company of Pikemen & Musketeers.

The Light Cavalry consists of the mounted G Troop and dismounted City Troop. Their duties include escorting the Lady Mayoress on the Lord Mayor's parade along with providing a carpet guard at the Law Courts.

The unit also provides various escort parades throughout the year as well as tent pegging displays.

More than ceremonial

Although the public face of the unit is ceremonial, the Light Cavalry delivers several outreach programmes.

These include an annual cadet showjumping competition and the training of members of the Civil Service Riding Club to encourage the development of equestrian skills.

The Light Cavalry has recently been working with psychological trauma charity Warrior Equine on its mental resilience courses.

It's provided horses, facilities and logistical support for Equine Assisted Recovery activities to support the wellbeing and rehabilitation of serving personnel experiencing challenges associated with military service and recovery.

The unit's Riding Master has established a collaboration between a large rehabilitation centre in Odesa and a ranch north of Kyiv in Ukraine.

The Light Cavalry HAC aims to continue its collaboration with Warrior Equine and use its facilities at Flemish Farm in Windsor Great Park for British servicemen and women who would benefit from such rehabilitation programmes.

All images, except where otherwise noted, courtesy of TT Photography