The work never stops, for both animals and people
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SHIFTS JUST PART OF THE ROUTINE AT DEFENCE CENTRE
WHILE millions of us enjoy time off over the festive season, spare a thought for those who carry on working throughout the holiday period.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are routine shifts for the military and civilian staff looking after the hundreds of working horses and dogs at a Melton base.
On Christmas Day, a 40-strong team reported for work as usual at the Defence Animal Training Regiment (DATR) to feed, groom and exercise the military animals.
Corporal of Horse Andy Mancey is one of 52 riding instructors in the British Army, who serve the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment,
Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Household Division and the DATR.
He said: “The horses need looking after daily, so Christmas is just another day. It’s important that the horses maintain their fitness.
“Everything still needs to happen, it’s just a little bit more relaxed.”
On Christmas morning, just like any other day, the horses were fed and exercised.
Andy said: “We start about half seven. We feed them first, which takes about half-an-hour, and then while one half of the team exercise the horses, the other half will clean out their stables.”
At lunchtime Andy and the rest of the team headed home to enjoy their Christmas dinners. However, there was no festive glass of wine with the turkey for Andy. Married to Jenny with one daughter, Matilda, aged two, he returned to the base in the late afternoon to give the horses their final feed and put them to bed. He added: “I tend to volunteer to work Christmas Day. You still get a few hours of the day and it means I get New Year off.”
Civilian groom Katie Miller, 30, who looks after three military horses, said: “It doesn’t bother me working Christmas Day, we are only here for a few hours in the morning.
“We just pitch in and get the work done; everyone works together. It’s like a little family.”
Working over in the Canine Training Squadron was chief dog trainer WO1 Paul Jobling and his team.
Just like the Equine Training Squadron, the team were in early morning to feed and exercise the Military Working Dogs and clean out their kennels.
Lance Corporal Joe Murden, 27, of the Canine Training Squadron, formerly with 1 Military Working Dog Regiment, said: “I worked as an arms explosive search dog handler in the regiment. Now I’m here to learn how to actually train the dogs.
“I don’t mind working over Christmas. It lets those with children be at home.”
The Veterinary Training Squadron also had staff working to treat those military animals which need their medication as normal on Christmas Day.
Major Drew Tootal, the secondin-command of the Defence Animal Training Regiment, said: “Animals require care all year round and we have a great team of military and civilian staff who accept working over holiday periods as part of their work.
“Together, they ensure that the welfare of the animals is always the top priority – even on Christmas Day.”
We just pitch in and get the work done; everyone works together. It’s like a little family
Katie Miller