History
The Light Cavalry were originally formed in 1861 to act as mounted reconnaissance for the gun batteries. Apart from its military duties, the Light Cavalry formed the official mounted escort for the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The Light Cavalry paraded for Princess Alexandra's visit to the city in 1861, the state visit of Tsar Alexander II in 1874 and was reviewed by Queen Victoria at Buckingham Palace and in Windsor Castle in the 1880s. In 1890 the Light Cavalry Troop were converted into a unit of Horse Artillery by order of the War Office and was renamed A Battery HAC, taking precedence over the HAC's existing field Battery.Current incarnation
In 1979 a new ceremonial Light Cavalry unit was formed within the HAC. Its chief proponent was Major Gerald Flint-Shipman, an officer in the Territorial ArmyDuties
A Royal Warrant granted by HM The Queen in 2004 tasks the Light Cavalry with providing a ceremonial bodyguard for the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of the City of London. The Light Cavalry escorts the Lady Mayoress’s Coach during the annual Lord Mayor’s Show. Other duties include providing mounted and dismounted guards of honour for members of the Royal Family, Civic dignitaries including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, City of London Livery Companies, as well as other institutions, equestrian events, balls, dinners, and film premieres. Military equestrian skills are taught and practiced by the Light Cavalry, preserving military drills of a Victorian cavalry unit. Members regularly participate in skill-at-arms and military equestrian events. Full instruction is given in the use of traditional cavalry weapons of the era, the sword and lance.Membership
Membership of the Light Cavalry is open to all ranks of any Service. Members are unpaid but give freely of their own time for drill practice and rehearsals as well as for official duties.Supporting Riders Club
The Light Cavalry also has a Supporting Riders Club based at their stables in Windsor Great Park. Here lessons and hacks are available to members of the club which is open to both members and non-members civilians as well as military. Supporting Riders also assist the Light Cavalry on parades such as the Lord Mayor’s Show.External links