Soldiers thrown from saddles as Household Cavalry horses 'spooked' by construction work

Soldiers were thrown from their saddles after a group of five horses were "spooked" by construction work in Central London this morning (Wednesday, April 24), the British Army has confirmed. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment have issued a statement following dramatic scenes this morning, where horses were photographed galloping down the streets of the city, with one visibly covered in blood.

In a video statement posted on X, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Matt Woodward said the unit exercises around 150 horses on the roads and in parks every morning, partly to help desensitise them to city noise. He said a small group of horses were spooked by construction work on a side road in Belgravia.

Lt Col Woodward said: "This morning, however, 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."

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Four soldiers were thrown from their saddles in the ensuing chaos, and five horses became loose, the Press Association has reported. The horses then smashed into vehicles, causing several injuries.

Lieut Col Woodward said the four service personnel were receiving treatment in hospital. Ambulance crews treated four people 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.

A management consultant from South London who saw two of the horses galloping near Aldwych said the sight was “gruesome” and “like a weird dream”. The 28-year-old said: “I got off the 172 bus which ends at Aldwych and two horses went flying past. One black, one white.

“The white one was drenched in blood from the chest down and they were galloping through the traffic at speed. People were stopping in the street shocked. The horses were running into fast-moving traffic and seemed terrified. Some unmarked police cars were chasing after them, which didn’t seem to be helping.

“I felt shocked. It was pretty gruesome. Felt like a weird dream.”

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 the windows.

The pair of horses was finally captured on the Highway near Limehouse, more than five miles from where they first bolted.

After thanking the emergency services and the public for their help, Lt Col Woodward added: “Thankfully, considering the frequency of exercise and numbers of horses involved, this type of incident is extremely rare, we continue to strive to minimise the risk of this recurring. As ever we are grateful for due consideration given by the members of the public to not making loud noises around our horses.”

The animals are all receiving care from vets at Hyde Park barracks.

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