30 – Mercury The Gentle Giant

Mercury, a veteran drum horse, has been nominated by The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment to join our Hall of Fame. Mercury sadly passed away recently. He had been receiving constant veterinary care after an incident in transit between training activities.

He will be remembered by the Regiment as a larger than life character with gentle ways who served the national well. Hundreds of messages of condolence have been left on the Regiment’s official facebook page, and judging from the tributes left he truly was a national treasure.

Born in April 2005 at Dyfed Shire Horse Farm, in West Wales, Mercury met with The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in October 2008, when he began his training to become one of the iconic drum horses. After initial training in Melton Mowbray, he was posted to Hyde Park Barracks where he passed out in 2010, and began his incredible life serving in The Band of The Household Cavalry.

Mercury would go on to amaze audiences on a global scale, from taking part in ceremonial events including Trooping the Colour and state escorts of the world’s national leaders in his 11 year-long military service. We are told his presence would always astonish onlookers. At 17.2 hands high and weighing 821kg, he was one of the largest horses in service with the British Army, with a gentle giant’s personality to match.