A Pembrokeshire farm grieving the loss of its star mare, who left to join the Royal Household Cavalry as its first female drum horse, will still take part in tomorrow’s Barley Saturday event in Cardigan.
Dyfed Shire Horse Farm announced the death of its beloved Willa Rose, whose regimental name was Major Juno, earlier this week.
The history-making mare died after a ‘short but devastating illness’ on Monday, April 20.
She was born on the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in Eglwyswrw in May 2013, the fourth generation of the Dyfed shire bloodline began by John Rees Lewis, 40 years ago.
Willa Rose was spotted by the now Queen Camilla and King Charles during their royal visit to the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm in 2018.
In 2021 Willa Rose, standing at over 18.2hh and weighing almost a metric tonne, followed in the footsteps of her uncle Celt, Major Mercury, and left Dyfed-Shire Horse Farm in Eglwyswrw to join the Royal Household Cavalry.
"Willa-Rose or Juno as she became was broken in by Claire Bodsworth,” said Dyfed Shire Horse Farm owner, Huw Murphy.
“This with her natural temperament led to the cavalry breaking with convention in deciding to buy a female shire rather than a gelding."
Willa Rose sailed through her training and made history as the regiment’s first ever female drum horse.
She was named Major Juno and her first public appearance was 2023’s Trooping the Colour when she joined the parade in front of the new King and Queen.
She took a central role in two consecutive Trooping the Colours after that.
During her time at the farm Willa Rose appeared at Cardigan’s Barley Saturday on a number of occasions.
This unique event sees a parade of vintage vehicles and horses through the centre of Cardigan and is a colourful celebration of Cardigan’s agricultural heritage and rural life dating back to the 19th century.
Willa Rose as she was then, took part in the event several times, including in 2017 when she took the then President Hywel Davies the Grand National Winning jockey, through the town.
Huw Murphy, owner of the Dyfed Shire Horse Farm said that despite its loss and grief, the farm would still attend Barley Saturday tomorrow.
He added that the farm this week has welcomed back another Dyfed heavy horse that it has bred, Big H, who has been away at ‘finishing school’ with Peter Richards at Strumble Head.
The strapping four- year-old Suffolk Punch gelding will be meeting visitors when the farm reopens for the season on May 1.
“Following the tragic loss of Drum Horse Major Juno - Willa Rose its good to see another heavy horse we have bred coming of age and putting a smile back on our faces,” said Huw.
“The show must go on, and will.”
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