Although the Royal Regiment of Artillery dates back to the reign of King Henry VIII, the Horse Artillery was first organised in 1793. In 1794 the splendid service rendered by the Horse Batteries at Vaux led the Duke of York to direct it to march past the whole of the allied armies at a special parade. The famous Chestnut Troop (now "A" Battery) did equally good service in North Holland in 1799, and the famous Rocket Troop was raised for special service in Flanders. The Royal Horse Artillery have won fame on many hard fought battlefields, notably at Fuentes d'Onor, in the Peninsular War, where Norman Ramsay charged with his battery (now "I" Battery) through the enemy's cavalry; and in South Africa and France where "Q" Battery and "L" Battery won many Victoria Crosses.

Nicknames: "The Right of the Line," "The Galloping Gunners," and "The Four-wheeled Hussars."