Two military horses seriously injured

TWO military horses seriously injured after running loose through London on Wednesday have undergone operations, the Army has said.

It comes after defence minister James Cartlidge said the animals were in a “serious condition” yesterday morning.

Four of the animals who broke loose have now been named: Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson.

Vida was the grey horse seen in videos and images from Wednesday covered in blood galloping through central London, alongside black horse Quaker.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the Army said one of those operated on had been taken to an equine hospital.

A group of seven horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise in Belgravia on Wednesday when they were spooked by builders moving rubble. Four service personnel were thrown from their horses and five of the animals got loose, smashing into vehicles and causing a number of injuries.

The Army said three soldiers who were injured would “recover fully and return to duty”.

The statement said: “Of the seven horses which were spooked, five tried to bolt and four, Vida, Trojan, Quaker and Tennyson, broke loose. Two of the injured horses were operated on last night, with one transferred to an equine hospital. All remaining horses are being closely observed.

“Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course. We want to thank everyone who has shown such kindness and concern towards our soldiers and horses. We will provide more updates soon.”

Ambulance crews treated four people on Wednesday in three separate incidents in Buckingham Palace Road, Belgrave Square, and at the junction of Chancery Lane and Fleet Street, in the space of just 10 minutes.

The drama began near Buckingham Palace Road where witnesses saw a serviceman thrown from his horse, and one of the loose animals crashed into a taxi waiting outside the Clermont Hotel, shattering windows. Another of the animals crashed into a tour bus, smashing the windscreen.