Horses injured four in six-mile rampage after builder ‘dropped concrete’

FIVE cavalry horses caused mayhem in central London today after getting spooked by construction workers.

Army personnel and pedestrians were injured and vehicles damaged after the horses rampaged across the city on Wednesday morning.

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The loose animals, wearing saddles and bridles, were seen running down the road near Aldwych.

A group of seven horses and six soldiers from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise in Belgravia when chaos erupted.

Four service personnel were thrown from their horses and five of the animals got loose, smashing into vehicles and causing a number of injuries.

It is believed the animals were spooked when some concrete being moved by builders hit the ground.

Pictures and videos of the horses were shared on social media, one of which showed a black 4×4 with blue lights following the animals.

Footage posted by users showed a saddled white horse covered in blood running through the street alongside a black one.

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.

It is understood that three soldiers were assessed in hospital for their injuries, which were not thought to be serious.

“One of them, a white horse, ran into a Mercedes taxi and cut its front. It was bleeding,” Darren Brooks told The Sun.

The construction worker, 40, continued: “The same horse ran up to the junction and hit a bus at the traffic lights.

“The noise sounded like a car crash. It was pretty scary to watch.”

Tracy, 20, from London, said: “It was the street from Tower Bridge towards Limehouse Tunnel… just running past cars and an unmarked Range Rover following them.”

A taxi driver waiting outside the Clermont Hotel had the windows of his car smashed after a spooked horse collided with the Mercedes people carrier.

LBC spoke to the driver, Faraz, who was waiting outside the hotel when he felt something smash into his car.

He said he saw three or four horses near the vehicle and that one member of military personnel had been thrown off and injured.

A horse also crashed into a parked double-decker tour bus smashing the windscreen.

Roland, a worker for tour bus company, Toot Bus, said the scene was “total mayhem”.

“I saw horses come from the bus station in front of Victoria run around in a frenzy,” he said.

“People were running around to avoid them – it was total mayhem.”

A second tour bus worker, named only as Mr Mahmood, said: “One of the horses bumped into a bus, then everything got out of control.

“I saw two horses without riders gallop away. One rider managed to calm his horse down.

“An ambulance went to assist another rider who had been injured.”

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A management consultant from London who saw two military horses bolt through the capital said it was “gruesome” and “like a weird dream”.

Tula, 28, from south London, was on the 172 bus to Aldwych when she saw two horses gallop past her and said members of the public looked “shocked” at the incident.

She 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.

People were running around to avoid them – it was total mayhem.

RolandToot bus worker

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

The Ministry of Defence confirmed seven Household Cavalry horses being ridden by soldiers from The Life Guard regiment of the British Army were spooked.

They said five took off around central London.

It is understood construction workers were using a rubbish chute to transport rubble when they dropped some concrete. 

An Army spokesperson said all of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp. 

City of London Police said officers had contained two horses and were preparing to transport them to veterinary care.

The London Ambulance Service described it as an “ongoing and complex situation”.

It said paramedics had been called to three separate incidents involving the loose horses.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We are aware of a number of horses on the loose in central London.

“We are working with colleagues in the Army to locate them.”

A City of London Police spokesperson said: “At around 8.40am, we were called about horses that had became loose and were travelling through the City.

“Our officers have contained two horses on the Highway near Limehouse.

“We’re waiting for an Army horse box to collect the horses and transport them to veterinary care.”

London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 8.25am today (April 24) to reports of a person being thrown from a horse on Buckingham Palace Road, SW1W.

“We sent resources to the scene including ambulance crews, a paramedic in a fast response car, and an incident response officer.

“Our first paramedic was on the scene in five minutes.

“The incident is still ongoing and we are working with our emergency services partners.”

A Big Bus Tours spokesperson said: “We confirm that one of our stationary buses sustained damage this morning during an incident involving horses from the Household Cavalry.

“One of the horses ran into the front of our parked vehicle. Fortunately, none of our team members were injured.

“Our primary concern lies with the welfare of the riders and animals involved in the incident.

“We are currently coordinating closely with Emergency Services to assist in any way possible.

“At this stage, we have no further comments to provide.”

An Army spokesperson said: “A number of military working horses become loose during routine exercise this morning.

“All of the horses have now been recovered and returned to camp.

“A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention.”

In a video statement posted on X, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment Matt Woodward said: “Every morning, the Household Cavalry Mounted regiment in London exercises some 150 horses in the parks and on the roads.

“This keeps them fit and helps inoculate them to city noise so they’re less easily panicked on parades.

“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.

“Our immediate priority was the safety and wellbeing of our soldiers, members of the public and our horses.

“We would like to express heartfelt gratitude for the swift responses of Met Police, City of London police, the Royal Mews, the London Ambulance Service, the London fire brigade and members of the public in reacting as quickly as they did.

“This enabled swift treatment of our soldiers and helped bring our injured horses to safety.

“Three of our soldiers have incurred injuries which are not deemed to be life-threatening and they’re receiving treatment in hospital, while our horses have all returned to Hyde Park barracks and are undergoing veterinary care.

“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.

“We appreciate your concern, understanding and patience as we work through this matter.”

Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster, who helped co-ordinate the London Fire Brigade’s response, said: “London Fire Brigade was alerted at around 8.30am today to report of several horses that had bolted on Buckingham Palace Road in Central London.

“Crews and officers were mobilised to the scenes of two collisions, including one near Victoria Railway Station where a horse was involved in a collision with a taxi.

“We also assisted and worked closely with partners after a person fell from a horse in Belgravia Square.

“Due to reports that several horses were unaccounted for, the Brigade’s response for large animal rescues was also alerted, along with the drone team and National Interagency Liaison Officers to assist in the search and the horses were quickly accounted for.”

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