In a dramatic turn of events, four military horses from the Household Cavalry broke loose in central London earlier this week, causing chaos during the morning rush-hour. The horses, named Vida, Quaker, Trojan, and Tennyson, were spooked by construction noise near Buckingham Palace and bolted down Aldwych, hitting vehicles and narrowly avoiding pedestrians.
Vida, a white horse, was seen drenched in blood and treated for lacerations, while Quaker was transferred to an equine hospital for specialist care after undergoing surgery. The other two horses, Trojan and Tennyson, escaped without major injuries. Three soldiers who were thrown from their steeds during the incident were hospitalized but are expected to recover and return to duty.
Despite the shocking incident, the British Army assured the public that all the horses are being closely observed and receiving the highest standards of care. The Army confirmed that those horses that did not require surgery are expected to return to duty in due course.
The commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Matt Woodward, explained that the horses were training for an upcoming military parade when they were startled by the construction noise in Belgravia. Despite the chaos, the regiment demonstrated their readiness for summer pageantry at Hyde Park the following day.
The wild spectacle captured the attention of stunned commuters and social media users, highlighting the unpredictable nature of working with animals in high-pressure situations.