A shire horse who cost just £500 when he was a yearling playee a key part during the coronation procession of King Charles III. Ed - now known as Major Apollo - is a ceremonial drum horse from the Dyfed Shire Horse farm in Eglwyswrw, Pembrokeshire.
The farm has a "loyal association" with The Household Cavalry and The Band of The Household Cavalry. Ed was the second horse to head to London from Pembrokeshire in December 2019 following in the hoofprints of Celt, who became a drum horse in 2008. A third shire horse from the farm, Willa Rose, has also been bought by the Household Cavalry and is being trained as a drum horse.
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Ed made his debut at Trooping the Colour at the Platinum Jubilee Trooping in June 2022. His Coronation role involves leading 200 other horses on the procession route on the streets of London, carrying the ceremonial kettle drum.
Major Apollo stands at more than 17 hands (1.73m or 5ft 6in), weighs nearly 800kg (125 stone) and has been trained to carry a musician and drums during ceremonial events.
His first encounter with royalty was back in July 2018 when Camilla, the Queen Consort, visited the farm along with the King, who was then Prince of Wales. She took the reins as Ed pulled her around the farm on a carriage ride.
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