Spooked Household Cavalry Horses Cause Chaos in Central London; Soldiers and Horses Injured
A routine exercise turned into chaos in central London on Wednesday when a group of Household Cavalry horses was startled by construction noise, leading to a widespread disturbance. The incident occurred in Belgravia as military horses and soldiers from the prestigious regiment were partaking in an extended exercise.
According to the British Army, the mayhem began when some concrete being shifted by builders dropped unexpectedly, causing the horses to panic. This unfortunate noise spooked seven horses, resulting in four service personnel being thrown off and five horses breaking free. The loose animals created havoc over a six-mile area, colliding with vehicles and causing multiple injuries.
Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Matt Woodward, detailed the events, “This morning, 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.”.
Despite the chaos, the army has confirmed that all the horses involved are “safe and receiving treatment” and emphasized that such incidents are rare given the regular training and exposure the horses undergo to acclimate to city noises. “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,” explained Woodward, reported by Daily Mail.
The immediate aftermath saw emergency services and civilian responders acting quickly to manage the situation. “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,” added Woodward.
Three soldiers were among the injured, taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, ambulance crews had treated four people across three separate incidents near Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square, and the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street within just ten minutes.
The drama started near Buckingham Palace Road, where a serviceman was seen being thrown from his horse, and a loose horse collided with a taxi outside the Clermont Hotel, breaking its windows. Another horse struck a tour bus, damaging the windscreen, while two others were spotted running covered in blood near Aldwych.
As the community and the Cavalry work to recover from the incident, CO Woodward reassured the public, “We appreciate your concern, understanding and patience as we work through this matter.” The regiment continues its efforts to minimize such risks and ensure the safety of both the public and their animals during their routine exercises.