As with any new or rare breed of horse there is some confusion as to what exactly makes a Drum Horse a Drum Horse. I have included two guides below, the very quick 'checklist' for whether a horse can be registered as a Drum horse, and the more detailed history to follow. This also includes the reasoning behind the regulations.

The Checklist -

-  A full draft horse with a mix of Gypsy, Shire and/or Clydesdale blood 

-  The smaller of the two parents must stand at least 15 hands

 -  A horse that stands over 16 hands upon maturity

-  A horse with a sound and willing temprement

-  A horse the complies with the above standards can be of any colour, including solid's and appaloosa spots

Why is the Gypsy/Shire Mix so important?

The orginal definition of a Drum Horse was a 'Coloured Shire Horse', and therefor it is important to keep this look about the horse. The Drum Horse is one of the rare breeds where the ability to perform a function is more important than the breeding. Although there are guidelines regarding percentages of Gypsy and Shire blood (a minimum of 12.5% Gypsy Blood, and no more than 87% of Shire/Clydesdale), if a horse is within these bounds, any mix is permissable. The Gypsy blood became a necessary addition to the breed when the Shire Horse Society in Britian stopped coloured Shires being eligible to be registered. This led to a very steep decline in the numbers of coloured shires bred, and those that remained quickly found their way to Gypsy horse breeders who have always preferred coloured breeds, and found these horses ideal for their cart work. Without the coloured Shires to choose from, the royal stables starting breeding back to these taller Gypsy horses to regain the loud colours and patterns in their breeding stock. Hence, Gypsy horse blood became a vital component of the breed.

Why is the height of the parents and the horse itself so important?

The Drum Horse was a breed orginally established by the British Military Corps to perform a very specific function, which was to carry the drums of military band during war and parade duties alike. The two main reasons for the height restriction spring from this purpose. The solid silver kettle drums the horse carries, also sometimes called 'timpani's', weigh just over 200 pounds, not including the weight of the rider. For a horse to be able to comfortably shoulder this weight for a prolonged period requires a strong and well developed shoulder, good bone and, of course, a decent height. The other, slightly vain, reason is that these horses were meant to be the pride of the unit they were fighting with, the mascot if you will. This meant they wanted the horse to stand out, and no enemy was going to be impressed with someone beating bongos on a shetland. The drums therefor had to fit with the horses size, and not dwarf him, or hinder his movement, which should at all times be impressive and regal. For this to be possible the horse and to stand at least 16hh (although preferablly between 17 and 18hh), and be of a solid draft-type build.

The risk that becomes inherant with keeping the Gypsy blood in the breed is that the size of the Drum may suffer as a result. With some registered Gypsy's stand as little as 12hh it would be eventually possible, without regulation or descretion, to breed a 13hh Drum horse. Hence, to be eligible to be registered, both parents must stand at least 15hh, and the horse itself must reach 16hh upon maturity. This height restriction is not new, being a guidline for the breed since near it's inception, and it is a uniform measure; even horses within the Queen's own stables must conform to it.  

Isn't every Drum Horse coloured?

Although the vast amjority of Drum Horses are coloured, and most modern breeders will select for it, it isn't a necessary requirement of the breed. The preference for colour once again comes from the horse's military beginnings, where it was considered a point of regimental pride to have the most impressive Drum horse possible. In fact, Drum horses were orginally 'procured ' for the regiment from the lands that they passed through, if they saw a impressive coloured horse, if became theirs. Whether they were all paid for, or some stolen, still remains a point of contention. The regiments all certainly preferred the paints, the piebald (black and white) being  favoured over a skewbald (brown and white). Although many military stories have featured the Drum horse, Rudyard Kipling's 'The Rout of the White Hussars' is probably the most well known, which includes a apt description of the drum horse on which the story is based, as well as the passion associated with the horse with which he served. 

"The soul of the Regiment lives in the Drum-Horse, who carries the silver kettle-drums. He is nearly always a big piebald Waler. That is a point of honor; and a Regiment will spend anything you please on a piebald...  Wherefore, so long as he can step out and look handsome, his well-being is assured. He knows more about the Regiment than the Adjutant, and could not make a mistake if he tried." 

"When the Colonel cast the Drum-horse (ordered his executuion) of the White Hussars, there was nearly a mutiny."

The complete story can be found at the link below -

http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/2454/

This section will be completed shortly....