A stable belt is an item of uniform used in the armed forces of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries.
Originally, stable belts were worn by cavalrymen in the working dress they used for cleaning the stables and tending to their horses, but in the 1950s they spread to all branches of the armed forces, adding a splash of colour and individuality to the drab khaki working uniforms. Initially they were resisted by many senior officers, who saw them as too individualistic, but they soon became accepted throughout the forces.
A stable belt is a wide webbing belt, usually a single solid colour or horizontally striped in two or more different colours. It is worn around the waist, either in the belt loops of trousers or a skirt or over a jersey. The original cavalry stable belts buckled at the side to avoid chafing the soldier's stomach as he bent down during stable work, but many stable belts are now clipped at the front, usually behind a metal belt plate. A large number of units, however, continue to use the traditional method of securing the belt using two leather straps and metal buckles at the left-hand side.
Today, every regiment and corps of the British Army has its own stable belt, often very colourful. The Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force also have their own. They are worn with most styles of informal dress, but not with formal (No.2 or No.1) dress. Stable belts are purchased by individual service personnel, not issued, so are theoretically neither regulation nor compulsory, but since virtually everyone does own one they are effectively uniform items.
Current British stable belts
Note that these belts are shown in cross section, the stripes actually being horizontal as worn, and are actually considerably wider than shown, although the stripes are shown in correct proportion. Where belts are asymmetrical, the left-hand side of the illustration is the uppermost as worn.
Cavalry/Armour
Infantry
Scottish infantry regiments are not shown, as their stable belts are in the regimental tartan.
Corps
Cadet and training units
Former Territorial Army regiments still existing as sub-units
Other services
Obsolete British stable belts
Cavalry/Armour
Infantry
Corps
External links
Stable Belts (http://www.stablebelts.co.uk/)
