On 1st January 2019, our capital will see an exceptional equestrian element return to the London New Year’s Day Parade with All The Queen’s Horses.

This exclusive equestrian element has been part of the parade since 2012, and we spoke to Caroline Marsh, ATQH co-ordinator and founder ahead of the event to find out more…

 

Every year you have a theme, this dictates what costumes you will all wear, what is this year’s theme and who chooses the theme?

“The Parade’s theme is ‘London Welcomes The World’ and celebrates our vibrant, multi-cultural society and the visitors who flock to our capital from all over the world. We can’t wait to share with the crowds our carnival make-over on traditional dress. The organisers of the Parade decide on the theme but how we interpret it through our costumes is left up to us. In past years we have had Hollywood, and one year we had the 1960’s which was a lot of fun.”

 

Tell Us About The Parade & Your Involvement:

“The LNYDP is a free family event and has taken place every year since 1987 with All The Queen’s Horses participating since 2012. Around 500,000 spectators attend the event every year, and the route runs from Piccadilly near Green Park to Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall to Parliament Square. I got involved via The Donkey Breed Society by a lady named Herdis Churchill. A very influential lady and you never said no to a lady of so much knowledge!

We then represented Croydon via my work with Tramlink (My miniature horses were the mascots for about three years), and later in 2012, All The Queens Horses was born after I pestered the organisers to let us get involved! We have never looked back since!”

 

How Do Riders Get Involved?

“We have a long waiting list of people who are interested, but as the numbers are strictly limited to a maximum of seventy, the places get filled quickly. You can apply via email on our website contact form or private message us through our Facebook page.

 

How Do You Prepare The Horses For The Event?

“The atmosphere is pretty electric, and the whole event is done in the walk, so you do need a special kind of horse and rider to cope with it all! We also request that riders give calmers as a condition. Preparing the horses for such an electric atmosphere is hard, but training at home, riding at busy local events, riding past schools and competing at the likes of the county shows certainly ensures that you are half way there!”

 

How Long Does The Planning Take For The Event?

“As soon as we are boxing the horses back home after the parade on 1st January, we are already planning the following year! It really does take a full year of organisation to ensure that the day goes smoothly and everyone enjoys themselves. It’s a lot of work but a lot of fun too!.”

 

The parade starts at noon, and you can catch All The Queen’s Horses from 1 pm onwards. Enjoy one of London’s highlights with its a unique equestrian angle.

 

www.allthequeenshorses.co.uk

 

Photos by Jo Monck and Fotos4U