Since Belgium’s independence, its monarchs have been accompanied by a Royal Mounted Escort on official occasions. This prestigious task is performed today by the horsemen and horses of the General Reserve of the Federal Police. All the 132 horsemen of the Belgian Royal Mounted Escort ride Belgian horses. Composition of the Escort The front arrow The procession is opened by the front arrow, formed of three mounted chief inspectors. The lances carried horizontally above the horses’ necks mean that the Sovereign is present.
The drum and trumpet corps The front arrow is followed by the drum and trumpet corps, which heralds the arrival of the monarchs by sounding the trumpets. Those fourteen mounted musicians ride dapple-grey horses, except for the timpanist who rides a piebald one. They are familiar with a wide repertoire of cavalry marches.
The first squadron Then comes the first mounted squadron, consisting of two troops, under the leadership of a squadron commander. The standard bearer The standard bearer is directly in front of the royal car and is flanked by two guards. The Commander of the Royal Escort The Commander of the Royal Escort - a police superintendent - is alongside the right door of the royal car. Behind him follow two chief inspectors: one pennant bearer and one dispatch rider. The Commander of the Royal Escort can therefore be given orders from the King and pass them on via the dispatch rider to the relevant officers. The King’s close protection is also one of the Commander’s tasks. The second squadron Then comes the second squadron, which also consist of two troops under the leadership of a squadron commander. The rear arrow The escort is closed by the rear arrow, consisting of three mounted chief inspectors. They always carry their lances upright. Uniform
	In 1938, when the Royal Escort was created within the former gendarmerie, the artist and designer James Thiriar was commissioned to design a new uniform for the horsemen. The designer drew his inspiration from the great gendarmerie uniform created before 1914. The new ceremonial dress was approved by the King on 20th May 1939 and proved popular among the public. The bearskin, in particular, was a source of wonder and admiration.
Bearskin Nowadays, the horsemen of the Royal Escort still wear their original uniform with the black bearskin trimmed on the front with a gilt royal crown. The horsemen deem it an honour to wear the bearskin because it has always been the headgear of elite troops. Since 1792, the French elite cavalry have worn this hat and when the former gendarmerie formed the consular guard in 1801, it earned the privilege of wearing the bearskin. Most bearskins are still the original ones and therefore made of real bear skin. The Belgian bearskin is hoof-shaped, the British one egg-shaped. Preferential treatment For each royal service, a lot of attention is lavished on the horses. They are meticulously brushed and sometimes washed with water and shampoo. Their hooves are rubbed with black polish and check patterns are made on their hindquarters by using soap and a comb. Piebald horse The piebald horse of the timpanist is an eight-year-old mare. She joined the Royal Escort last year and was then called "Agena". Traditionally, the timpanist’s horse is given a name with musical connotation, that is why Agena was renamed Presto. Presto is a calm and strong mare with one distinguishing feature: she always stands on three legs to eat, even a lump of sugar. The cavalry of the Federal Police The 132 horsemen of the Royal Escort are not exclusively appointed to it. The Federal Police also enlist the horsemen and their mounts as special operational support in public order operations (for example, maintaining public order during a demonstration, escorting risk supporters, etc.). In addition, the local authorities and police services can also request the support of the cavalry for local actions. Those actions may relate to public order, as well as mounted patrols in the city, in wooded areas or on the coast. Such patrols mainly work on a preventive and dissuasive basis. For the time being, the Federal Police have 180 horses, including the 132 of the Royal Escort. The horsemen also perform other policing duties such as patrols on foot to maintain order, the transfer of prisoners and the surveillance of critical points.