Major Harry Wallace

Catherine Austen talks to the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery Commanding Officer about his quest to improve the unit’s horsemanship, and pre-race nerves

MAJOR HARRY WALLACE is quite nervous about the first race on the card at the Combined Services point-to-point at Larkhill on 18 February. He’s not riding in it — although he hopes to have “two or three” rides later in the day — but because eight of his soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Artillery will be, all on British Army horses.

“I am conscious that it is a big ask for horses which were bought for ceremonial duties and which aren’t thoroughbreds to jump for two-and-a-half miles over point-to-point fences with riders who have never ridden in a race before,” he says.

Harry has used all his experience and contacts in the racing and equestrian worlds to help them — they’ve been team chasing, schooling at Lyneham Heath and up to the British Racing School in Newmarket to benefit from former jump jockey Steve Smith Eccles’ wisdom.

“They’ve already been given their orders and have to stick to them,” he says with a laugh. “The temptation will be to ride a finish from the first fence onwards.”

Harry is seven months into a two-year stint as Commanding Officer of the King’s Troop, and is tackling the role with the same enthusiasm and inventiveness as that with which he is approaching the Larkhill race.

“During my time as Commanding Officer, I want to improve the horsemanship across the board in the King’s Troop,” he says.

The historic unit’s role in the army is largely ceremonial, and its duties include firing gun salutes on state occasions and royal anniversaries. It also performs its breathtaking Musical Drive, which many readers will have seen at Royal Windsor Horse Show.