Two military horses that ran loose through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in serious condition after undergoing operations, according to a U.K. government official. The incident occurred during routine exercises near Buckingham Palace and caused chaos in central London during morning rush hour. Two of the horses underwent operations, one was transferred to an equine hospital, and three soldiers thrown from their steeds were hospitalized with injuries. Despite their serious condition, the horses were alive and three were said to be fine, with the expectation of a full recovery for the injured soldiers.
The loose horses belonged to the Household Cavalry, the ceremonial guard of the monarch, and are a feature of state functions in London. The horses involved in the incident were named Vida, Quaker, Trojan, and Tennyson, with Vida being identified as the white horse seen drenched in blood as it galloped down Aldwych. Commuters and witnesses were stunned as the horses galloped through the city, sideswiping a taxi, running through a red light, and causing near misses with cyclists and a motorbike rider at a traffic light. One of the horses crashed into a taxi, shattering windows, while another slammed into a tour bus, smashing the windshield.
The chaos caused by the spooked horses was captured on social media and witnessed by many in central London. Despite the dangerous situation, the horses were eventually corralled at Limehouse, about 5 miles from where they initially bolted, and all captured horses were taken back to barracks in Hyde Park. The army trains with about 150 horses every day, making the incident exceptionally rare according to defense minister James Cartlidge. He emphasized that there were no serious injuries to the public, and they would be monitoring the situation closely.
The horses had been participating in training for an upcoming military parade when they were spooked by the crashing sound of construction materials at a work site in Belgravia, a neighborhood west of the palace. The commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Matt Woodward, explained that the incident was isolated and the regiment was prepared for upcoming summer pageantry events, such as Trooping the Color and state visits. The day after the incident, more than 150 horses and close to 200 participants took part in the regiment’s annual inspection at Hyde Park to demonstrate readiness for these events.
The incident of the loose horses running through London’s streets left many shocked and concerned for the safety of both the horses and the public. The images of the horses galloping through the city, having near misses with vehicles, and causing damage highlighted the unpredictability and potential dangers of working with animals in public spaces. Despite the seriousness of the situation, efforts were made to corral the horses and bring them back to safety, with the injured soldiers expected to recover fully and return to duty. The incident served as a reminder of the unique challenges faced by those working with animals in high-pressure and public settings.
