On Wednesday, a dramatic spectacle occurred in London as the Royal Guard horses Vida and Trojan ran scared through the streets. Both horses are now in serious condition and have undergone surgery, with Vida hospitalized at an equine hospital after the operation. Defense Minister James Cartlidge confirmed that three horses are fine, but two are in relatively serious condition following the incident.
The horses were frightened by the sound of construction materials dropped by a worker at a construction site in Belgravia. Quaker, Trojan, Tennyson and Vida ran through the streets of London, causing chaos as they dodged traffic and almost collided with cyclists and motorcyclists at traffic lights. Quaker even crashed into a tour bus and broke the windshield.
Four soldiers were thrown from their mounts and hospitalized with injuries, but they were expected to make a full recovery. The horses were eventually captured in Limehouse 8 kilometers from where they escaped and returned to Hyde Park barracks. The incident was described as exceptionally rare by the defense minister, who assured the public that there were no serious injuries to the public.
The horses had been training for an upcoming military parade and traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony when the incident occurred. Despite the dramatic nature of the spectacle, Lt. Col Matt Woodward emphasized that Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ensures that their horses receive only the highest standards of care. The horses not requiring surgery are expected to return to duty soon while those requiring surgery are being treated at veterinary clinics around London.
Lt Col Matt Woodward also mentioned that they exercise about 150 horses every morning in city parks and streets to desensitize them to urban noise levels. The impact of construction materials caused some riders to fall off their mounts but incidents like this one happen very rarely.
Overall, it is essential that proper safety measures be put in place during such exercises involving animals on busy streets to prevent accidents like this from happening again.
In conclusion, although it is rare for such incidents to occur, it is crucial for safety protocols to be followed when using animals on busy London streets for training purposes.
