Two military horses in London bolted and ran miles through the streets after being spooked by construction noise, causing chaos during the morning rush hour. Out of the four horses that broke free, three were fine, while two required operations and one was transferred to an equine hospital. The animals were part of the Household Cavalry, the ceremonial guard of the monarch, and a feature of state functions in London. The horses were named Vida, Trojan, Quaker, and Tennyson, with Vida being the white horse seen drenched in blood as it ran down Aldwych. Two of the soldiers thrown from their steeds were hospitalized with injuries, but were expected to fully recover and return to duty.
The incident occurred near Buckingham Palace, with the horses tossing their riders and galloping loose through central London streets. A fifth horse that tried to bolt was unable to break free. The loose horses were eventually captured and taken back to barracks in Hyde Park. Defense Minister James Cartlidge stated that three of the horses were fine, but two were in a serious condition and required monitoring. The army trains with about 150 horses every day, making this incident exceptionally rare. Cartlidge emphasized that there were no serious injuries to the public as far as they were aware.
Vida, the white horse that ran through London’s financial center and the West End theater district over 5 miles away, ran alongside a black horse named Quaker. Quaker was seen bumping into a taxi as it turned into oncoming traffic after running through a red light at an intersection. Despite the chaos and confusion caused by the loose horses, no serious injuries to the public were reported. The soldiers thrown from their horses were hospitalized with injuries but were expected to recover fully. The incident highlighted the risks involved in working with animals, especially during routine exercises with the Household Cavalry.
The loose horses from the Household Cavalry are a key part of state functions in London, providing ceremonial guard duties for the monarch. The horses hold significant importance in British military tradition, representing strength, loyalty, and tradition. The incident near Buckingham Palace showcased the unpredictable nature of working with animals, especially in crowded urban environments. Despite the chaos caused by the horses bolting through the streets, they were eventually captured and returned to barracks without any serious injuries to the public.
The incident involving the loose horses in London highlights the challenges faced by the British Army in training and working with animals. With over 150 horses trained daily, incidents like these are exceptionally rare but can have serious consequences. The soldiers thrown from their steeds were expected to recover from their injuries and return to duty. The horses involved in the incident, Vida, Trojan, Quaker, and Tennyson, were all eventually captured and taken back to barracks. The importance of proper training and handling of military animals is crucial to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
