When Household Cavalry horses run wild (2024)

A Household Cavalry horse is not your average steed. Specially-trained to ignore artillery fire, they work patiently amidst large crowds and deal with the commotion of state events.

But on occasion, it has been known for these ceremonial chargers to lose their composure, whether that be an unexpected noise or a pesky tourist getting just a bit too close.

Often seen on special ceremonial occasions, these elite horses and their riders have traditionally been part of the monarch's elite bodyguard.

But every now and then the soldiers have to turn their attention away from the King in hot pursuit of a military horse on the run.

More Household Cavalry horses spooked - with a rider thrown to the ground and injured in a separate incident to the runaway steeds

A horse was filmed rearing and throwing off a trooper on the same day a group of panicked horses ran wild through Central London.

One onlooker said moments before the incident: 'The horses are having a bit of a dance show this morning, they're not settling down as quick as they usually do.'

A trooper who was thrown from his horse can be seen lying still on the floor

Footage shows the other riders trying to control and calm their steeds as the horse is led away

A black horse then moved frantically and seemed distressed.

Several of the other horses were also seen tugging against their harnesses, disturbed by the distressed animal, as the first horse bucked and threw its rider off.

The rider, who was flung into the air, remained motionless on the ground for some tie as medics arrived to check on him while the horse walked away.

Horse rammed into crowd after it is spooked in Coronation procession

Aspooked horse reversed into crowds lining the route of the King's coronation procession on May 6, 2023.

The household cavalry charge backed into a metal barrier as it followed behind the carriage of the new monarch and Queen Camilla during their return to Buckingham Palace.

Guards ran to get out of the way as they noticed the horse careering towards them.

Guards and onlookers dispersed as they noticed the horse was about to career into them

Members of the public behind the barricade, who had lined up to catch a glimpse of the new monarch, also dispersed as they realised the danger they were in.

The horse's rider, a member of the Life Guards, desperately tried to rein his steed in as it spun across the road.

While no one appeared to have been seriously hurt by the horse, which was quickly brought under control, one officer limped away as the procession continued.

Shocking moment King's Guard soldier is kicked by a horse

Ahorse kicked back at a King's guard during a paradebut the soldier remained composed.

An unknown soldier was aggressively kicked in the chest by a horse in front of him at what appears to be Horse Guard's Parade at St James's Park in London.

A clip on The King's Guards YouTube channel shows an exasperated horse kicking out at a soldier

After the horse lifts his hind legs and kicks out at the guard, he steps back a few paces before quickly recovering

As part of the usual drill, the soldier dismounted from his own horse, before taking his position during the procession.

The horses lined up and a drill was carried out after the changing of the guard.

One guard, whose horse was on the back line, dismounted and reached the ground before walking around the front of his horse.

However as he did so, the steed in front of him raised its back legs and kicked out, making contact with the guard in the chest and narrowly missing his face.

The guard winced, stumbled and appeared to be in pain but kept hold of the horses reins and quickly shuffled back into position.

The Royal Guard's YouTube channel confirmed at the time that the guard, who barely flinched, had not been injured by the kick.

Bizarre moment three Household Cavalry horses gallop through London traffic during rush hour

Three horses galloped through traffic - in the middle of London in 2022.

The black chargers looked confused as they trotted down the main road one after the other, weaving between rush hour traffic.

The horses were part of the Household Cavalry and had bolted from Hyde Park, according to The Sun.

Despite performing in the Queen's funeral, the trio of steeds became spooked after hearing a bus brake in the rain.

The three black horses weaving between traffic during London rush hour in the rain

Farah Ali, 46,from north-west London said: 'I was just doing the school run and suddenly they appeared out of nowhere.

'They looked lost and were trotting up and down the road, not knowing where to turn.

'The traffic was at a stand still, and they were passing all the static cars - it was the last thing I expected to see on a Monday morning.

Another witness said: 'It was crazy. Suddenly there were these riderless horses cantering down a really busy road.

Household Cavalry soldier falls from his horse during practice for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee

In 2022 a soldier of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment dramatically fell off his horse during the state ceremonial practice for the Platinum Jubilee.

The soldier fell to the ground during the rehearsal where around 170 horses and personnel lined up to be inspected by General Officer Commanding the Household Division, Major General Christopher Ghika.

It's not clear how he fell but he wasn't believed to be seriously injured.

The soldier was thrown from his horse during rehearsals forthe Queen's Platinum Jubilee but was unhurt

King's Guard forced to hit emergency help button after losing control of his horse

One of the King's Guard had to call for emergency help after his horse went wild.

A guard had to slam the button whileoutside the Guards, London as a tourist posed alongside the steed.

The tourist looks on with concern as the horse starts bucking its head violently

The spooked horse violently bucks its head before backing into an alcove. The terrifying incident forced the Guard to slam the emergency help button

The trained horse started vigorously bucking its head and swaying back and forth, clearly in distress as tourists filmed the incident.

The guard remained calm throughout as the horse trotted back and forth, at one point even retreating into an alcove.

The scary moment happened next to a sign saying 'Beware horses may kick or bite'.

Soldier regains control of his horse after it is spooked during the welcome of the King and Queen of Spain on Horse Guards Parade

During a state visit from King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain in 2017, a mounted soldier struggled to control his horse that had become spooked by the lavish celebrations.

The soldier from the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry, was photographed calming down his steed as it reared on to its back legs.

The composed solider tries to re-gain control of the spooked horse during celebrations for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain in 2017

King's Guard horse bites and shakes tourist's coat after she got too close

Afemale tourist who went in search of a photo with one of the famed Guard got a lot more than she bargained for.

The tourist who stood next toasteed for a photo ignored a sign next to the guard warning onlookers that horses may kick or bite and raised her hand in an attempt to stroke the animal.

As she did so, the horse grabbed her coat in its teeth and starts violently tugging.

As the woman tried to stroke the horses face, it bit down on the arm of her jacket. Refusing to let go, it tugged on the jacket and pulled her back and forth before finally releasing her

The tourist is tries to get away from the horse after it has clamped down on her jacket

The Guard remained calm throughout and didn't intervene as the tourist looked on scared as her arm was yanked.

She eventually ripped her coat free from the horse's mouth and moved away looking shocked and embarrassed with a large tear in her sleeve.

When Household Cavalry horses run wild (2024)

FAQs

When Household Cavalry horses run wild? ›

Three horses galloped through traffic - in the middle of London in 2022. The black chargers looked confused as they trotted down the main road one after the other, weaving between rush hour traffic. The horses were part of the Household Cavalry and had bolted from Hyde Park, according to The Sun.

How long do the King's Guards horses stand for? ›

Each red coated guard “stands guard” on horseback for exactly one hour, impervious to the cameras, selfie sticks, and requests for smiles, in full military regalia.

What happens to the household cavalry horses when they retire? ›

Horses are vital for the Household Cavalry's ceremonial role, and we are committed to providing support to organisations and individuals caring for our retired horses. Support for retired horses includes: Working with specialist equine charities for the welfare of retired Household Cavalry horses.

Do the Kings Guard horses get turned out? ›

Renowned for their role in ceremonial pomp and display, these horses are always turned out immaculately, endlessly patient and able to handle the large crowds and noise of state events. Here is all you need to know about these magnificent steeds, from how they are chosen to their task of guarding the King.

Why did the horses run through London? ›

LONDON -- Two military horses that bolted and ran miles through the streets of London after being spooked by construction noise and tossing their riders were in serious condition after undergoing operations, a U.K. government official said Thursday.

Can you touch the King's Guard's horse? ›

A sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses may kick or bite, telling them not to touch the reins. Should these rules be disobeyed they have been known to respond aggressively, so seriously do they take their duties, but there are occasions when the human sides of the guards come out.

How often does the King's horse guard change? ›

Changing of The King's Life Guard occurs daily (Monday to Friday) at 1100 on Horse Guards Parade. At 1600 daily, the duty officer will inspect The King's Life Guard in the courtyard.

Why do the household cavalry slap their horses? ›

The slap on the neck is to prepare taking weight on one side for the dismount . It's taught to the horses , remember these men have full gear and weigh more that you think.

Why do Household Cavalry horses toss their heads? ›

Head tossing is a recreational sport in the Household Calvary. The more heads you can toss, the more points you score for your team. This ancient game dates back to the Victorian occupation of India and the Indian obsession with playing chess.

What breed of horse did cavalry use? ›

The Cavalry had something called a Remount program to encourge breeding and raising suitable Army mounts. Morgans and Thoroughbreds dominated the program, but the service sometimes used locally procured horses of whatever breed was available.

Why do the royal horses nod their heads? ›

To show excitement:

Horses may nod their heads when they are excited or eager, such as when they see their owner coming to feed them or when they are about to go out for a ride. This can be a way for horses to express their enthusiasm and communicate their feelings to their handlers.

Why do the royal horses flick their heads? ›

Why do horses headshake? There is a range of potential reasons for a horse to shake its head. Some cases are caused by allergies, sinusitis, dental pain, and a number of other conditions. These all need to be ruled out as part of the clinical investigations into the cause of the condition.

What happens to the queens horses when she dies? ›

After she died, most of those were given to King Charles, who has reportedly inherited around a third of his mother's stable, which is believed to be over 100 thoroughbreds.

Are the London horses okay? ›

In an update posted to X on Friday, the army said: “All our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course.” Three soldiers who were injured will “recover fully and return to duty”, the statement added.

Why do horses run in the wild? ›

Both males and females run to escape threats. Adult males also run when chasing or being chased by another male. In those natural social contexts, the behaviour seems to indicate that at some level that they have “won” or “lost”.

How are household cavalry horses? ›

An Army spokesperson told The Independent: “We take the health and wellbeing of our military working horses extremely seriously. They are well looked after, exercised daily and have 24/7 direct access to world-class veterinary care.”

How long do the Horse Guards stand at Buckingham Palace? ›

The guards, on horseback, stay there - unmoving - for an hour, before they are replaced by two new guards. The open gates at Horseguards Parade.

How do royal guards stand for so long? ›

Royal guards are standing to protect the queen on rotational shifts round the clock. These are broken up into four different six-hour shifts for each soldier, 24 hours a day until the queen's funeral on Monday. Within these six-hour shifts, the guards swap over from standing on the catafalque every 20 minutes.

What kind of horses do the Royal Guards ride? ›

Generally the carriage horses are Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays bred at the Royal Mews. Then there are Irish Draught/Thoroughbred horses ridden in the parades, a particularly strong breed able to carry a rider laden with regimental kit. These Cavalry horses are housed at the Hyde Park Barracks.

How many horses does the Royal Guard have? ›

Bearing in mind the regiment has 250 horses, it is their task to carry out the traditional ceremonial role of the Household Cavalry – its duties include providing The Queen's Life Guard daily the Horse Guards, finding all Sovereign's and other escorts, providing mounted bands and certain dismounted duties for the Royal ...

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