Injured Household Cavalry horses to join King’s Birthday Parade

June 5, 2024

Three of the five Household Cavalry horses injured when they bolted and ran wild through the streets of London are expected to join the King’s Birthday Parade after recuperating in the country.

Meanwhile, the two horses most seriously hurt in the incident are continuing their recovery, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

Vida, Quaker, Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish were being ridden on a training exercise in Belgravia on April 24 when they were shocked by the noise of rubble crashing down on a building site.

Throwing off their riders, the horses careered through the streets during the morning rush hour, smashing into several vehicles including a double-decker tour bus and a Mercedes people carrier. Blood was seen streaming down the sides of Trojan, a black, and Vida, a grey.



Blood-soaked grey Vida and one of the other runaway horses during the stampede


Vida, a grey, was covered in blood as he ran through the streets of London


Credit: Paul Grover for the Telegraph



Trojan will take part in the King's Birthday Parade with Tennyson and Vanquish


Trojan, who was seen with blood pouring from him as he stampeded through London, is to return for the King’s Birthday Parade with Tennyson and Vanquish

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Defence said all five horses had been making “remarkable progress” under the care of staff at the Horse Trust, a Chilterns-based charity, and are expected to fully recover from their injuries.

Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish are back on duty and are expected to participate in Trooping the Colour on June 15.

The five soldiers riding the horses were injured, but three have now recovered and are back on duty. The other two are continuing to convalesce but are also expected to make a full return to service.

Seeing them having fun ‘is a joy’

Jeanette Allen, the chief executive officer at The Horse Trust, said: “It has been a privilege to provide these wonderful horses with the space and time needed to fully recover.

“It’s been so lovely to see Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish enjoying such a relaxing break and now we have Vida and Quaker already loving their time here.

“All five horses are much younger than our regular Service residents and seeing them running, rolling and generally having fun after such a challenging experience, is a real joy.”

Lt Colonel Mathew Woodward, the commanding officer of the Household Cavalry, said: “All five of the horses injured during the incident on April 24 are recovering with remarkable speed, and it is very likely that Trojan, Tennyson and Vanquish will participate in the King’s Birthday Parade later this month.

“The remaining two, Vida and Quaker, are enjoying a summer holiday in the Chilterns thanks to The Horse Trust.

“They are expected to make a full recovery and we look forward to seeing them back on duty in due course. Of the two most seriously injured soldiers, one is continuing his recovery at home and the other at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Stanford Hall. They are both considered likely to return to military service in the fullness of time.”

Horses bright and in good spirits

Vida and Quaker were treated by Army vets for more than a month before they were fit enough to be discharged and transported to the charity.

The Army said the pair had made a “remarkable physical recovery” and were quick to start galloping across the 200 acres of Chiltern countryside.

Photographs show Quaker and Vida nuzzling their heads against one another in a field of dandelions.

A spokesman said: “Vida wasted no time in turning from white to brown as he rolled in the grass.

“The horses appeared bright and in good spirits, clearly displaying a close bond with each other and the soldiers who accompanied them.

“Trojan, Tennyson, and Vanquish were sent to the Horse Trust for two weeks before being handed back into the care of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

“Both the Army and The Horse Trust have been overwhelmed by the amount of public care and interest in the recovery of the soldiers and horses affected by the incident on April 24 and would like to thank everyone that expressed their concern and best wishes for a speedy recovery. They look to have been granted.”

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