The Horse was the heart of any Cavalry regiment and as such the majority of any day (all year round) circled around it. An indication of the daily routine for any Trooper in a cavalry regiment is shown:
0630 Reveille, wash, shave, layout kit for inspection
0700 First Stables, muck out and exercise
0800 Breakfast
0900 Drill (on horseback)
1045 Grooming and kit cleaning
1300 Dinner
1400 Musketry practice
1500 Drill
1630 Tea
I700 Stables
1800 Stand Down The horse was used in work and play. During work Soldier and Horse fought together on many battlefields throughout the world. In play games of Polo were enjoyed along with contests which developed skills such as tent pegging.
The change from Horse to Tank was something hard to take in for many but do with professionalism. Today the regiment still has horses but these are for play and not work, and are privately funded.
The regimental Mascot is a Drum Horse and still marches at the front of the Regiment today for all ceremonial duties and parades.