On Wednesday, two Royal Guard horses, Vida and Trojan, ran scared through the streets of London after being frightened by a noise from a construction site. Unfortunately, both horses are in serious condition and have undergone surgery. Vida, the white horse seen soaked in blood during the incident, is currently hospitalized in an equine hospital following the operation.
Despite this, all horses are still alive and being closely monitored. Four soldiers were also knocked from their mounts and hospitalized, but are expected to make a full recovery and return to duty. The incident occurred when the horses heard a noise of cement being dropped from a construction site while they were preparing for an upcoming military parade. Despite the chaos, there were no serious injuries to the public, and the horses are being well cared for by veterinarians.
Colonel Matt Woodward of Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment emphasized that the horses receive the highest standards of care and that those not requiring surgery are expected to return to duty soon. The Army expressed gratitude for the concern shown towards the soldiers and horses involved in the incident and provided updates on their condition.
In the aftermath of the dramatic spectacle, Vida and Trojan returned to Hyde Park barracks for assessment and care. Colonel Matt Woodward explained that this was an extremely rare incident considering that they train with approximately 150 horses every day in London’s busy city streets. The Army continues to strive to minimize such incidents occurring again in the future by taking precautions during training exercises.