Major update after five Cavalry horse injure four in six-mile rampage

THE Government and Army have issued major updates after five Cavalry horses injured four people in a six-mile rampage through London yesterday.

The Household Cavalry said the horses – which were taking part in a “routine exercise” in Belgravia on Wednesday morning – were spooked by rubble being dropped from a height by builders.

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The loose animals, wearing saddles and bridles, were seen running down the road near Aldwych.

The exercise had involved a group of seven horses and six soldiers in total, with four service personnel thrown to the ground.

Five horses got loose, smashing into vehicles.

In an update, defence minister James Cartlidge told Sky News this morning: “There were five horses. They have all been recovered.

“Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition.

“Obviously we will be monitoring that condition. They are in a serious condition, but as I understand, still alive.”

The minister said the two injured cavalry horses are named Vida and Quaker.

Mr Cartlidge went on to say it was an “exceptional” situation, explaining more than 150 animals are on exercise in the capital each day.

Asked about the condition of the two seriously injured horses by LBC, he said he “wouldn’t want to say more”.

He added: “Obviously, we didn’t want that situation to happen. What I would stress to you is that this is very exceptional.

“You are probably aware that the army has horses out on exercise in central London every day of the week. It is about 150 horses on average exercising every day.

“So this is extremely unlikely this scenario. Unfortunately we have seen what has happened, but all I can say is the crucial thing, as you said yourself, no serious injuries to the public as far as we aware, and of course we will be keeping an eye on the situation.”

The Army later said two horses involved had undergone operations.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Army said one of those operated on had been taken to equine hospital.

HORSES OPERATED ON

Three soldiers who were injured would “recover fully and return to duty”, it added.

The statement said: “Of the seven horses which were spooked, five tried to bolt and four, Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson, broke loose.

“Two of the injured horses were operated on last night, with one transferred to an equine hospital. All remaining horses are being closely observed.

“Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course.

“We want to thank everyone who has shown such kindness and concern towards our soldiers and horses. We will provide more updates soon.”

Pictures and videos of the horses were shared on social media, one of which showed a black 4×4 with blue lights following the animals.

Footage posted by users showed a saddled white horse covered in blood running through the street alongside a black one.

Ambulance crews treated four people in three separate incidents in Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square, and at the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, in the space of just 10 minutes.

It is understood that three soldiers were assessed in hospital for their injuries, which were not thought to be serious.

“One of them, a white horse, ran into a Mercedes taxi and cut its front. It was bleeding,” Darren Brooks told The Sun.

The construction worker, 40, continued: “The same horse ran up to the junction and hit a bus at the traffic lights.

“The noise sounded like a car crash. It was pretty scary to watch.”

Tracy, 20, from London, said: “It was the street from Tower Bridge towards Limehouse Tunnel… just running past cars and an unmarked Range Rover following them.”

SMASHED-UP MERC

By EMILY-JANE HEAP

A SECURITY guard who was working on Buckingham Palace Road at the time witnessed the incident.

The 27-year-old said: “I work in the building opposite and saw all these horses had got loose and were running across the road.

“One of them smashed into a Mercedes van and unfortunately the soldier riding it was thrown off and got trampled on. The horse ran off covered in blood.

“There was at least six other horses running down the road, but I could only see one other rider.

“The soldier that fell off was dazed but he wasn’t unconscious. When he came to he was able to be walked off by paramedics.”

The witness, from Enfield, north London, said the road was closed for around 20 minutes while emergency services attended.

The driver-side windows of the silver Mercedes van hit by the horse was smashed in the impact and left stained with blood.

The vehicle has since been recovered.

A taxi driver waiting outside the Clermont Hotel had the windows of his car smashed after a spooked horse collided with the Mercedes people carrier.

LBC spoke to the driver, Faraz, who was waiting outside the hotel when he felt something smash into his car.

He said he saw three or four horses near the vehicle and that one member of military personnel had been thrown off and injured.

A horse also crashed into a parked double-decker tour bus smashing the windscreen.

‘TOTAL MAYHEM’

Roland, a worker for tour bus company, Toot Bus, said the scene was “total mayhem”.

“I saw horses come from the bus station in front of Victoria run around in a frenzy,” he said.

“People were running around to avoid them – it was total mayhem.”

A second tour bus worker, named only as Mr Mahmood, said: “One of the horses bumped into a bus, then everything got out of control.

“I saw two horses without riders gallop away. One rider managed to calm his horse down.

“An ambulance went to assist another rider who had been injured.”

A management consultant from London who saw two military horses bolt through the capital said it was “gruesome” and “like a weird dream”.

Tula, 28, from South London, was on the 172 bus to Aldwych when she saw two horses gallop past her and said members of the public looked “shocked” at the incident.

She said: “I got off the 172 bus which ends at Aldwych and two horses went flying past. One black, one white.

“I felt shocked. It was pretty gruesome. Felt like a weird dream.”

Witness Tula, 28, from South London

“The white one was drenched in blood from the chest down and they were galloping through the traffic at speed.

“People were stopping in the street shocked. The horses were running into fast-moving traffic and seemed terrified.

“Some unmarked police cars were chasing after them, which didn’t seem to be helping.

“I felt shocked. It was pretty gruesome. Felt like a weird dream.”

In a video statement posted on X, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Matt Woodward said yesterday: “Every morning, the Household Cavalry Mounted regiment in London exercises some 150 horses in the parks and on the roads.

“This keeps them fit and helps inoculate them to city noise so they’re less easily panicked on parades.

“This morning, however, a small group of horses were spooked by some construction works on a quiet side road in Belgravia where building materials were dropped from height right next to them.

“The ensuing shock caused all horses to bolt and unseated some riders.

“Our immediate priority was the safety and wellbeing of our soldiers, members of the public and our horses.

‘SWIFT RESPONSE’

“We would like to express heartfelt gratitude for the swift responses of Met Police, City of London police, the Royal Mews, the London Ambulance Service, the London fire brigade and members of the public in reacting as quickly as they did.

“This enabled swift treatment of our soldiers and helped bring our injured horses to safety.

“Three of our soldiers have incurred injuries which are not deemed to be life-threatening and they’re receiving treatment in hospital, while our horses have all returned to Hyde Park barracks and are undergoing veterinary care.

“Thankfully, considering the frequency of exercise and numbers of horses involved, this type of incident is extremely rare, we continue to strive to minimise the risk of this recurring.

“As ever, we are grateful for due consideration given by the members of the public to not making loud noises around our horses.

“We appreciate your concern, understanding and patience as we work through this matter.”

A City of London Police spokesperson also said yesterday: “At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City.

“Our officers have contained two horses on the Highway near Limehouse.

“We’re waiting for an Army horse box to collect the horses and transport them to veterinary care.”

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