The times., 1899-04-10
THE QUEENS HORSES.
How They Are Exercised In the Lon
don Parks.

I
don Parks.
From the London Mail.)
The residents of buckingham Palace
Road are specially favored in the matter
. of display. Twice a day the guardsmen
march from barracks to st. James Palace
with drums beating and colors flying. and
every fine morning an imposing cavalcade
may be seen prancing out of Buckingham
Palace gates.
The procession consists of all the Queen S
horses and all the Queens men, and its
| object is to give the royal animals their
daily exercise. The sleek, well-kept horses.
| and the comfortable, well-kept men astride
them, proclaim regal state at every step.
| and the weary journalist looks at them
| with envy, and is not sure which he would
| rather be-one of the Queens horses or
one of the Queens men.
They do not seem to have single worry
| about them. 1t is plain that the cares
which surround a throne do not extend to
the stables.
The horses leave the news at about $3.50
for two hours airing in the parks. Some
times it is Hyde Park, sometimes Regents,
| sometimes the Green, and sometimes St.
James.
In one respect the Queens horses are
subjected to special training. When they
take kings and princes abroad they have 10
travel through crowds and connections.
1t would not do for them To shy when
distinguished personages should be wear
ing their most gracious and dignified air.
A royal prince may be thrown at militia y
maneuvres with no worse result than caus-
ing the Tommies to smile. But it would be
awkward for the same prince to be in a
runaway accident at a London ceremonial
1t might disturb the programme.
Therefore the Queens horses are train
ed so that the shouting of crowds, the iut-
tering of flags, and the clamor OF brass
/ bands shall be no more to them than the
tolling of church clock to the sedate bus
horse. Once in a way Captain Nicholas. the
| superintendent of the news, gathers a
number of healthy youngsters. warranted
to make noise. in the court yard.
He gives them banners and trumpets and
drums. and tells them to wave and blow
and bang. and when there is nothing else
to do to shout at the top of their lungs
The horses are trotted and driven past
and after few experiences of the con-
cert they can be guaranteed to stand pan
! demonium.
No risks are run. Before the last Jubilee
procession soldiers We're brought in to as
| sist the children. There were bands OF
music and sidedrums. and when the horses
had graduated with these band of pipers
! Nd5 iHlTOuuCtu. II was assumed tllt II
| the horses could stand bagpipes they could
stand anything.
Ii any preference is given it is to the
white Hanoverians. for these. being Hel
| Majesty's favorites for state occasions
have heavy responsibility to bear The
original stock came from the Elector oil
| Hanover stud. in the time of the first
/ George. and until the Queen ascended the
! throne most of the recruits came from
| Hanover.
Since 1887 they have been bred at Hamp-
| ton Court. and they have become almost
a purely English breed. Although they
| have improved in shape since the Han.
overian days, they are still a trifie clumsy
according to English notions. But they ar,
strong and steady, they never give in, they
| are perfectly docile. and it would require
| an earthquake and hurricane to disturb
| them.
A stroll through the royal news is
valued privilege. The animals are in per.
! feet condition. and the stables are model:
| Of convenience and sanitation.
The harness room is sumptuous. Bu
| the chiefest treasure of the news is the
State carriage. which, short of India, is
| perhaps, the most ornate vehicle in the
[, world. 1t cost about $4,000. and the Lort
| Mayors coach is hackney carriage beside
| it,
But it has the limitations of all thing.
| here below. 1t is so uncomfortable tha
! the Queen never rode in it without de,
veloping a headache. 1t is never uset
| nowadays.