The Legacy of the Drum Horse
The Drum Horse is a breed inspired by its historic role in the Queen of England’s Band of the Life Guards. These horses are required to carry two large, solid silver kettle drums while also supporting a fully outfitted rider. As key figures in royal processions, they navigate through crowds of thousands with unwavering composure. Their extraordinary temperament is demonstrated by their ability to remain calm in large gatherings, guided solely by reins attached to their rider’s stirrups.
The book All the Queen’s Horses states that the late Queen Elizabeth II initially used colored Shire horses as her Drum Horses. However, when the Shire registry ceased recognizing colored Shires, she sought alternative horses for her processions. According to rumor, this search led her to Galway Warrior.
Renowned breeder Jeff Bartko notes that Galway Warrior’s original papers list his name as “Beauty” and show the owner as “HRM The Queen” (Her Royal Majesty the Queen). His sire, Edingale Mascot—an 18.3-hand champion of the National Shire Horse Show—was originally purchased for use in royal processions. He was trained for this role and slated for gelding, though this never came to pass. It remains uncertain whether he was used for breeding during his time at Hampton Court Palace.
In 1992, a fire at Windsor Castle placed financial strain on the monarchy, resulting in a £36.5 million restoration cost. In response, Parliament required the royal family to pay taxes, leading to financial adjustments, including the sale of certain assets. As a result, Galway Warrior (formerly Beauty) was sold to an English woman who showcased him as a stallion.
Jeff Bartko of Black Forest Shire and Gypsy Horses discovered Galway Warrior through Heavy Horse World magazine while in the United Kingdom. In 2002, Galway Warrior’s son, Chew Mill Guinness, was imported to the U.S. directly from quarantine to his new owners, the Zeiglers of Old Mill Farms. Bred by John and Frances McCormick of Chew Mill Farm in England, Guinness was shown in saddle seat competitions in both the UK and the U.S. He also made appearances in numerous parades, events, and shows while standing as a breeding stallion.
A few months later, Jeff Bartko arranged another import of Gypsy Vanners. With a full plane, he made the decision to remove two Gypsy Vanners in order to bring Galway Warrior to the U.S. Once stateside, Galway Warrior was given the barn name “Warrior.” In 2003, he became the first Drum Horse featured at BreyerFest and remains one of the most influential stallions in the breed’s history. He lived out his years with Jeff and his wife until his passing on July 2, 2009.
The Evolution of the Drum Horse Breed
As interest in Drum Horses grew, the American Drum Horse Association (ADHA) sought to establish a distinct breed standard. One key discussion involved determining which breeds to include. The ADHA founders ultimately decided against incorporating Friesians, as their baroque build and lack of heavy feathering differed significantly from the desired Drum Horse type. Since feathering is a recessive trait, adding non-feathered breeds could alter the breed’s defining characteristics.
This led to the establishment of a formal breed standard:
The Drum Horse is a combination of any of the following breeds—Shire, Clydesdale, and Gypsy Horse—where no single breed exceeds 75% (3/4) of the total makeup, and the percentage of Gypsy Horse blood does not fall below 12.5% (1/8).
With this foundation, the Drum Horse continues to evolve as a breed, preserving its historical significance while adapting to modern equestrian pursuits.
Thank you Jeff Bartko and
Rhonda Ziegler for all your input and what you did for the Drum Horse breed!
Where They are now.
A Drum Horse is a combination of the Gypsy Horse and Shire and/ or Clydesdale, where the Gypsy Horse does not exceed 50% of the total make-up or fall below 6.25%. Horses with greater than 50% Gypsy or less than 6.25% Gypsy will be placed in the Foundation Drum Book.
The IDHA maintains three separate Stud Books:
Foundation Horse Book: A purebred (registered) Clydesdale, Shire, or Gypsy Horse or a cross of a (registered) Clydesdale and (registered) Shire.
Foundation Drum Horse Book: A horse that contains Clydesdale and/or Shire and where the Gypsy percentage is greater than 50% or less than 6.25%.
Drum Horse Book: A horse that contains Clydesdale and/or Shire with a minimum of 6.25% Gypsy, but not to exceed 50% Gypsy.
Classifications:
F1 Drum Horse: A horse that is Clydesdale and/or Shire and exactly 50% Gypsy
F2 Drum Horse: A horse that is Clydesdale and/or Shire and 25% to 49.99% Gypsy
F3 Drum Horse: A horse that is Clydesdale and/or Shire and 6.25% to 24.99% Gypsy.
Premium Drum: This horse can be an F1, F2, or F3 Drum Horse. It is a horse that by his/her 7th birthday is 16hh or greater and is height certified by a vet or an IDHA representative.
PURPOSE OF THE BREED
The purpose of the Drum Horse as a breed is to develop a new heavy horse breed that utilizes the best attributes of the Shire, Clydesdale, and Gypsy breeds, while focusing on breeding for athleticism, agility, and performance ability for all ridden disciplines.
The inspiration for the Drum Horse is the working horses still found carrying riders and heavy kettledrums in the Queen of England’s cavalry.
