Mistreated? Cavalry horses are the most loved animals in the world

THE melancholy strains of the Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses (from the 1971 album Sticky Fingers) have been running through my head all week, ever since five Household Cavalry steeds were spooked on their morning ride by building work being carried out on a mansion in Belgravia and ran amok through London.

Three soldiers and a cyclist were injured after the animals threw their riders and galloped off through the urban jungle, smashing into a row of parked e-scooters, a taxi and a bus. The subsequent scenes, shared widely on social media, were like a cross between that Lloyds Bank advert and a Quentin Tarantino movie.

The humans were taken to hospital and, as far as I know, are recovering. But two of the poor creatures were badly injured – a grey called Vida and a black horse, called Quaker.

In their panic they covered almost a sixmile stretch before being caught at Limehouse, in East London, bloodied and exhausted.

Despite the damage to both humans and animals, there was something incredibly stirring about the whole incident; a reminder that nature, even in such a relentless urban environment, can never truly be tamed.

Their fate has also captured the imagination of the public. There’s not one person I’ve spoken to this week who hasn’t expressed concern for the horses, and the fallout from the incident continues to exercise opinion online and on air.

Some have, inevitably, used it as an excuse to stir up trouble. Peter Tatchell, a patron of Animal Aid and supporter of Animal Defenders International, declared ‘these horses are held captive as animal slaves to serve the Royal Household Cavalry’, adding ‘SET THEM FREE!’

But that’s just politics – and ignorance. The idea that these animals are in any way mistreated or ‘enslaved’ is absurd: no creature on the planet could be more loved or respected than a Household Cavalry horse.

Truth is, more than a century since these animals ceased to be a familiar sight on our streets, horses still hold a unique place in our hearts. For me, it’s that combination of strength, beauty and intelligence – tinged with danger. The horse is one of the few truly awesome creatures Man has domesticated, but there is always a sense that it could at any point return to the wild.

That is what, in effect, happened this week. Horses are flight animals and no amount of training

I HAVE nothing but praise for the French police officer filmed slashing an overcrowded dinghy on the beach at Dunkirk. They may have saved the lives of those on board. Yet, inevitably, they’ve been accused of acting callously. Proof no good deed goes unpunished in this topsy-turvy world.

or conditioning can override that fundamental instinct to run when under attack.

Years ago, I was walking near South Kensington when the unfamiliar sound of hooves over the hubbub of traffic caught my ear. I turned to see a magnificent bay galloping towards the traffic lights at the junction with the Natural History Museum. I realised that since horses don’t get traffic lights, it could slam into a column of cars. It was going far too fast to try to stop it, so I shouted and waved my arms to put it off course. I must have caught its eye, because it veered off down a side street. I then rang the police.

When I was young, I used to love riding. Eventually, I gave up because I became too heavy, and it didn’t seem fair to make some poor horse cart me around for my own entertainment. But I have several friends for whom horses remain not just a passion, but also their emotional and mental salvation.

One works with a charity called HorseBack UK. Founded by a former Marine and his wife in Aberdeenshire, it helps ex-service personnel with life-changing injuries heal their mental and physical wounds through interaction with these noble, intelligent beasts. In partnership with the Prince’s Trust, it also helps disadvantaged youngsters in the community and offers support to NHS and care home staff. Its success rate is astonishing.

I hope Vida, Quaker and their companions are on the mend. Long may they continue to grace our capital with their awesome presence.