Household Cavalry: Runaway horse to join King’s Birthday Parade

One of the Household Cavalry horses that was injured after bolting through central London will take part in the King’s Birthday Parade on Saturday.

Tennyson was one of five horses injured after being spooked by building works while being exercised in Belgravia on 24 April.

Tennyson will be in the Sovereign’s Escort during the parade, which features 242 horses, the Army said.

Two of the other injured horses, Trojan and Vanquish, will be back in the public eye providing the ceremonial guard for the official entrance to the Royal Palaces.

Capt Charles Carr-Smith described Tennyson as the “epitome of a Cavalry Black”.

“Tennyson has returned to service without missing a step,” he said. “His return has lifted the spirits of those in 1 Troop the Life Guards.

“Knowing that this brilliant horse will once again carry its rider carefully down The Mall or canter off, leaping over log piles in Melton Mowbray, is a comfort to our less-experienced riders, who will undoubtedly scramble to put their names alongside his, for daily exercise.

“Due to so many well-wishers sending in mints, it goes without saying that Tennyson has the freshest breath of any horse on parade.”

At the parade, Tennyson will be ridden by the most experienced rider in the division, the Army said.

The Ministry of Defence said three of the five soldiers who were injured on 24 April were back on duty. The other two are making “good progress” and are expected back on duty in the future.

Tennyson, Trojan and Vanquish received emergency veterinary treatment and were cared for at Hyde Park Barracks, before completing their recovery with equine charity the Horse Trust.

The three horses returned to service last month and were reacclimatised to London.

The two more seriously injured horses, Vida and Quaker, are still being cared for by the Horse Trust.

Jeanette Allen, chief executive of the charity, said she was proud to see the three horses back in action.

“Anything we have done to help them complete their recovery, to the point of returning to full duties, means a great deal to us,” she said.