Veteran broadcaster and gardening icon Alan Titchmarsh recently opened up about a pulse-racing experience during the filming of two Royal-themed television programmes, All the Queen’s Horses and All the Queen’s Men. On the Talk Horse podcast, Titchmarsh recounted being invited to ride alongside the elite Household Cavalry and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery — an adventure that left him breathless, rattled, and unexpectedly profane.
His journey began atop Waterford, a notoriously spirited horse affectionately described by the Queen’s groom, Terry Pendry, as having “five legs” due to his unpredictable nature. Unlike professional soldiers, Titchmarsh rode in boots without spurs, amplifying the challenge and his own sense of vulnerability.
The real test came during a rehearsal near Wormwood Scrubs when he joined a gun carriage team mounted on Mango, a horse he jokingly feared would turn him into “chutney.” Positioned in the central pair, Titchmarsh faced the daunting task of maneuvering through the “scissors” — a complex drill where horses and wheels crisscross at high speed.
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“It started off all right,” Titchmarsh admitted. “We went from trotting into a canter, then a gallop. And I’m sorry, but the one-word reaction escaping my lips was that classic expletive beginning with ‘sh’ and ending with ‘t’.”
At one point, he lost his stirrups yet miraculously stayed mounted, completing the intense routine unscathed. The seasoned military personnel were visibly impressed; the outriding sergeant and Bombardier Floyd noted, “We don’t normally go that fast.”
Following the electrifying ride, Titchmarsh joined a six-outfit procession from Wormwood Scrubs to St John’s Wood at a brisk trot, creating a spectacle of jingling harnesses and thunderous wheels that brought traffic to a halt.
“It was the biggest thrill, certainly the biggest rush of my life,” he reflected. “By the end, I was speechless—it was just an incredible experience.”
However, the physical demands were significant. With a chuckle, he revealed, “Then I had three months at the osteopath.”
Alan Titchmarsh’s candid recollection offers a rare glimpse into the intense world behind Royal military pageantry, highlighting both its excitement and its challenges.