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Postilion

"Postillion" redirects here. For ships of the Royal Navy, see HMS Postillion.
Postilions control the horses drawing the Queen's coach at the State Opening of Parliament, London 2015
Postilions at the state funeral of Ronald Reagan, 2004
ANZAC horses and postilions struggle to move a gun, Passchendaele, 1917, by Harold Septimus Power

A postilion or postillion is a person who rides a harnessed horse that is pulling a horse-drawn vehicle such as a coach, rather than driving from behind as a coachman does. This method is used for pulling wheeled vehicles that do not have a driver's seat, such as many ceremonial state coaches and artillery limbers and caissons. Postilion riders are generally arranged one rider for each pair of horses, riding the left horse.[1][2][3]: 373 

Originally the English name for a guide or forerunner for the post (mail) or a messenger, it became transferred to the actual mail carrier or messenger and also to a person who rides a (hired) post horse. The same persons made themselves available as a less expensive alternative to hiring a coachman, particularly for light, fast vehicles.

A carriage or coach that was arranged without a driver's seat and intended for guidance by postilions, had à la Daumont appended, such as "coach à la Daumont". Daumont is a corruption of the French d'Aumont from the 8th Duke of Aumont who preferred this manner of travel.[3]: 121 [2]: 62 

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference walrond79 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference smith was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference berkebile1978 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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