The Traditional Drum Horse

The Traditional Drum Horse

Traditional Drum Horse Standard

The horse used by Queen Elizabeth II in England during the 1980s & 1990s to carry heavy solid-silver kettle drums as her ceremonial Drum Horse was either an Irish Cob imported from Ireland into Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales), or a Part Bred Irish Cob imported from Ireland into Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales).

It is Queen Elizabeth II's unique, coloured and feathered ceremonial Drum Horse from Ireland (Irish Cob and Part Bred Irish Cob) that the world fell in love with in the 1990s. It is for this reason that TCR named Queen Elizabeth II's unique, coloured and feathered ceremonial Drum Horse from Ireland the Traditional Drum Horse (aka the first worldwide recognised Drum Horse).

Because Queen Elizabeth II's unique, coloured and feathered ceremonial Drum Horse (Irish Cob and Part Bred Irish Cob) was in England, and because it was not known during the 1990s that there was already a breed standard written in Ireland (in the country of origin of the breed) for the breed (the Irish Cob Breed Standard), many registries were established worldwide from 1990s seeking to ‘rewrite’ the Irish Cob Breed Standard as a Drum Horse Breed Standard with a drawing or image of an Irish Cob or Part Bred Irish Cob. However, this has caused confusion and division in the Drum Horse world.

NOTE: Most of the horses used by the British army as War Horses were Irish-bred horses imported from Ireland. The horse most sought after was the powerfully built but athletic Irish Draught Horse. 

Recognising the Traditional Drum Horse

(the first worldwide recognised Drum Horse)

Irish Cob
Traditional Drum Horse

The above picture shows an Irish Cob working in London, England, during the 1980s-1990s, as one of Queen Elizabeth II's ceremonial Drum Horses.

Irish Cob
Irish Workhorse

The above picture shows an Irish Cob working in Dublin City, Ireland, during the 1980s, as one of Ireland's Irish Workhorses. Not only was the Irish Cob used by Irish Travellers in Ireland (who created the breed) to pull their barrel-topped wagons, but they were also used in the cities of Ireland as Irish Workhorses.

Part Bred Irish Cob
(Irish Cob x Irish Draught Horse)
Traditional Drum Horse

The above picture shows a Part Bred Irish Cob (Irish Cob x Irish Draught Horse) working in London, England, during the 1980s-1990s, as one of Queen Elizabeth II's ceremonial Drum Horses.

NOTE: The Irish Cob x Irish Draught Horse is a sublime crossing of two Irish native breeds. If the ceremonial Drum Horse shown in the picture above were an Irish Cob x Shire Horse or Clydesdale Horse, or a Gypsy Cob x Shire Horse or Clydesdale Horse, then it would not be as long-legged or athletic-bodied.

Why an Irish Cob can be a Drum Horse

Because a Drum Horse used in ceremonies to carry heavy, solid silver kettle drums could not be under 15.3hh, and because an Irish Cob can be 15.3hh and over, an Irish Cob can be a Drum Horse.

Why a Gypsy Cob cannot be a Drum Horse

Because a Drum Horse used in ceremonies to carry heavy, solid silver kettle drums could not be under 15.3hh, and because a Gypsy Cob is under 15.3hh, a Gypsy Cob cannot be a Drum Horse. It is for this reason that the Gypsy Cob has to be crossed with the Shire Horse or Clydesdale Horse to produce a Drum Horse.