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Lance Bombardier Abbie Robinson, 24, joined the army six years ago. She is now training to be the first female farrier in the British Army with The King's Troop Royal Artillery.

Abbie is originally from Handsworth and always wanted to join the army as she couldn’t see herself working in a civilian job.

So when she left Heritage Community School in Clowne in 2011, she knew exactly what she was going to do.

Lance Bombadier Abbie Robinson, who joined the Army six years ago and is now training as an apprentice farrier with Kings Troop.

As the country entered lock-down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, horses from Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery were sent to the Leicestershire countryside for an early rest and recuperation period. This is usually reserved for the summer months after they have completed their annual ceremonial season, including firing a gun salute on Coronation Day on 2 June, however in line with Public Health England guidance, only a small number of officers, soldiers and horses from Kings Troop remained in London to carry out essential training and maintenance.

Kings Troop, which is a ceremonial unit in the British Army, consists of around 140 Household Troops and 100 horses, all based in George VI Lines in Woolwich, South East London. Their primary role is ceremonial, as the saluting battery of Her Majesty's Household providing ceremonial gun salutes to mark coronation days, royal birthdays, royal births, and other state ceremonial occasions. Soldiers from Kings Troop also conduct military training exercises, take part in military sports competitions, and have even featured with their horses in Downton Abbey.

The UK Armed Forces are due to resume training that was paused due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and Defence activity is gradually scaling up in accordance with Public Health England guidelines on social distancing. The horses from Kings Troop that were sent to grass during the lockdown period, are now undertaking a seven week reconditioning programme back in Woolwich. This involves coat, mane and tail maintenance, clipping and caring for their feet, re-fitting horse shoes and providing all horses with a gradual fitness programme to bring them back into work. — Lance Bombadier Abbie Robinson, who joined the Army six years ago and is now training as an apprentice farrier with Kings Troop. As the country entered lock-down in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, horses from Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery were sent to the Leicestershire countryside for an early rest and recuperation period. This is usually reserved for the summer months after they have completed their annual ceremonial season, including firing a gun salute on Coronation Day on 2 June, however in line with Public Health England guidance, only a small number of officers, soldiers and horses from Kings Troop remained in London to carry out essential training and maintenance. Kings Troop, which is a ceremonial unit in the British Army, consists of around 140 Household Troops and 100 horses, all based in George VI Lines in Woolwich, South East London. Their primary role is ceremonial, as the saluting battery of Her Majesty's Household providing ceremonial gun salutes to mark coronation days, royal birthdays, royal births, and other state ceremonial occasions. Soldiers from Kings Troop also conduct military training exercises, take part in military sports competitions, and have even featured with their horses in Downton Abbey. The UK Armed Forces are due to resume training that was paused due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and Defence activity is gradually scaling up in accordance with Public Health England guidelines on social distancing. The horses from Kings Troop that were sent to grass during the lockdown period, are now undertaking a seven week reconditioning programme back in Woolwich. This involves coat, mane and tail maintenance, clipping and caring for their feet, re-fitting horse shoes and providing all horses with a gradual fitness programme to bring them back into work.

She signed up after two years of study at Chesterfield College.

“I never saw myself doing a job in civi street," Abbie said. "The army was always just there - it’s practical, you get to travel about, you get to do things and meet people you wouldn’t normally meet in civilian life.

"My goal when I did join the army was to join the Forge. That was my goal from the start .”

Abbie has also met The Queen on several occasions.

Abbie had a love of horses from an early age and owns three back in Whitwell where her parents Michael and Louise live. That includes a retired horse from the King's Troop Royal Artillery, called Tommy.

Abbie is grateful to parents and twin sister Georgia for their help with caring for her horse while she’s away on duty. The whole family, including older brother Lewis, is extremely proud of all her achievements.

Horses are big powerful animasl but Abbie has no qualms about getting in close to the horse to carry out her duties as a rider or farrier.

“Some people come to the troop who haven’t had any experience with horses," she said. "They are taught correctly how to handle a horse, drastically reducing any chances of any injuries to the horses or rider."

After 14 weeks of basic training at Pirbright, Abbie joined her unit at George VI line in Woolwich. When Abbie has completed her training in approximately four year, including disruptions due to Covid-19, she will join the current complement of 10 Farriers at her base.

“I work alongside our fully qualified farriers in Kings Troop to recondition and trim the feet of all our horses, and to replace or repair their shoes so that they are in the best possible condition. During lockdown, I have had plenty of time to focus on the theoretical parts of my apprenticeship and I am hoping to become the British Army’s first female qualified farrier at the end of my training”.

As part of the George VI lines King's Troop Royal Artillery. Ceremonial duties include trooping the colour, the Queen's birthday parade which involves 80 horses and the Queen's life guards .

There is also the firing of salutes for the Queen's birthday, accession to the throne, royal births or funerals and other state ceremonial occasions which usually take place in Green or Hyde park.

The regiment also takes part in the Windsor Horse Show and The Musical Drive which has been performed at every royal tournament since 1947.

One of the most memorable events Abbie took place in was in 2018 for the Battle of the Somme Commemoration in Parliament Square

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The regiment also takes part in the Windsor Horse Show and The Musical Drive which has been performed at every royal tournament since 1947.