Company Mascot

Ajax represented the Company either ridden by his owner, Liveryman Alan Roberts, or in hand, carrying two decorated pin casks. Ajax’s equipment was made by a variety of skilled crafts people.

Coopers embroidered saddle cloth, or shabraque

The beautifully decorated shabraque (the name for a formal ceremonial saddle cloth) was made by Penny Hayward. 

Pack saddle

The saddle and harness Ajax wore to carry his oak casks was tailor made by collar and harness maker Terry Davies at his workshop in Shropshire with Terry one of only three remaining heavy horse harness makers in the UK.

Oak casks

Ajax carried two pin (4 and a half gallon) oak casks. These were made by Master Cooper, Alistair Simms at Jensen’s Cooperage in Yorkshire.

Decoration on casks

The two beautiful casks were hand painted by Steph Newington in the UK. Steph has done other work for the Coopers where his work will remain for generations to come to be admired.

Representing the Company

In the following years Ajax represented the Company in various places including RAF Brize Norton, alongside the Household Cavalry, Coopers’ Company & Coborn School, Moreton in Marsh Show and Westons Cider to name a few.

In 2023 Ajax moved from Jersey to Shropshire and through the summer of 2024 was prepared for travelling to London to stay and parade with the Household Cavalry. Shortly before the trip, he broke his foot badly which is a very serious injury for a horse, and particularly a heavy horse from which he wouldn’t have recovered and sadly had to be put down.

The Coopers’ Company is thankful for the time Ajax was its Mascot.