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by Jo Monck


at the stands along the way.


The teams stop along the route so that the crowds can meet the horses, some of my favourite photos over the years have been the look on people's faces as they touch a velvet muzzle for the first time, or place their hand on a soft silky shoulder, some of these people have never been this close to a horse before and the first meeting between members of the crowd and these fantastic equines is something quite magical.


The route continues on past The Ritz, via piccadilly circus, to Trafalgar Square where the huge flashing screens became a moving backdrop for the horses and riders, quite surreal to see these brave little horses taking it all in their stride. I was so impressed with the kids, on their ponies, waving at everyone and looking like this was something they just did every day whilst Admiral Nelson looked down from his column. I wonder what he would have made of it all.


As the horses progress toward Whitehall I am always reminded of Charles II and his great love of horses, my favourite merry monarch, whilst passing what is left of his cherished palace, as I watched the Lusitano horses majestically coming toward me I mused on whether they were treading where their ancestors had trod on the streets of London hundreds of years before, Lusitano horses would surely have been included in the huge dowry that came with Catherine of Braganza, Charles II’s Portuguese bride and subsequent Queen of England. Just a little New Years Day thought.


The route passes Number 10 Downing Street and sixty horses clatter down Whitehall taking London back to the 19th century when the horse was the main form of transport, that is 240 hooves on the streets of London making their way past some of the city’s most iconic buildings and monuments, and Claire and I run like mad between the teams of horses trying to capture everyone who takes part, you do need a degree of fitness to do this job!


As we round the corner past Big Ben, which is at present under wraps being restored, to walk up to Horse Guards Parade there was really no let up in the people that had gathered to watch, I truly think it must be the biggest crowd I have ever seen there and every horse and rider gave their all.


At Horse Guards last year I finally managed to get a group photo of everyone who had taken part in the Parade, a first to get everyone in one place, it's usually like trying to round up sheep, a proud moment!


It’s at Horse Guards that you begin to feel a little tired after walking /running the route carrying the camera equipment, last year I remember there was a tug on my sleeve and I glanced round to see Celia, the friend I had brought with me “Are we there yet” she asked “I think my legs have fallen off”; “Just The Mall to go” I said, her little face fell “and we have to run now to catch up with the first lot, its quicker if you run…” I added kindly. Poor Celia, a baptism of fire!


The final leg is the walk up The Mall to Buckingham Palace where teams and individuals are photographed outside the gates of this iconic building. I remember well the wonderful sight of fifteen Iberian horses riding abreast up The Mall, it was a truly beautiful thing to see and the wonderful Gypsy caravan pulled by a magnificent coloured cob, I think that was one of my favourite photographs ever, not forgetting the Fjord horses who constantly communicate by touching noses, I have photo’s of nose touching Fjords dating back to my first parade! And of course Central Horse News very own Sasha Meila riding her beautiful Arabian Mukhtar Ibn Eternity, stable name Mooky, that was another favourite shot taken at the gates of Buckingham Palace, oh so many favourite photos over the past six years! At Buckingham Palace I realised my feet were beginning to hurt a little in my new boots. As a photographer you tend to run a lot and are never in the right place and when you realise that you aren’t you have to get to the right place quickly and that takes its toll on feet in new boots! Obviously myself and the boots were meant to be carried by Durante…. but I won’t dwell, he had his reasons.


In seemingly no time we are strolling across Green Park back to where we started from, with the usual feeling of ‘did that just really happen…?’ as the horses are loaded and the little horse village begins to wind down. London claims back the little patch of ground that we have occupied. I notice a lonely silhouette of glitter in the shape of two horse shoes on the pavement, all that remains of all the excitement and preparation. That was my last photo of the day. Entirely appropriate I think.


PS. On uploading my Gopro video at home that night I find that this year I have filmed the sky and not much else…


For more information on the London New Years Day Parade and All The Queens Horses please have a look on these websites: http://www.allthequeenshorses.co.uk https://lnydp.com


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MARCH/APRIL 2019 69


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