Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world
Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email
One of the five horses that rampaged through central London has had their condition described as “not looking good”.
A military source has told The Sun that concerns were still high for the black horse Quaker as Vida returned to her stables overnight after an operation.
One has since been transferred to an equine hospital while the others remain under close observation.
It came as an alleged whistleblower at Hyde Park Barracks explained that she saw rats roaming around where the horses are kept and that they were often given “dirty water”.
The former volunteer, giving her name as Kate, told LBC the horses would sometimes “only have exercise for an hour a day, and very little sunlight, often stuck inside.”
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.”
Horses may never return to service
Vets cannot be certain whether two of the horses that ran loose in London will ever go back into service.
An Army spokesman said: “We are hoping that both these horses make a recovery. Whether they will recover enough to return to official duties, it’s too early to know for sure.
“But they’ve been given the best veterinary treatment possible and remain under close supervision.
“Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying. Vida was operated on overnight and is currently in stables at the Hyde Park Barracks under observation.”
Quaker was also operated on overnight but it was decided to move the horse to an equine hospital in the early hours for more specialist treatment.
“The extent of the injuries is not completely clear but we don’t believe at this stage there are any broken bones,” the spokesman said.
“The blood seen on Vida (the grey horse) was consistent with lacerations.”
‘Whistleblower’ blasts conditions of Hyde Park barracks
An alleged whistleblower at Hyde Park Barrack explained that she saw rats roaming around where the horses are kept and that they were often given “dirty water”.
The former volunteer, giving her name as Kate, told LBC the horses would sometimes “only have exercise for an hour a day, and very little sunlight, often stuck inside.”
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.”
‘Tradition is no excuse for cruelty’ PETA call for end of horse exploitation
Elisa Allen, of PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wrote in the Mirror: “As prey animals, their natural fight or flight instinct is paramount to their survival – and the only reliable outcome is that a horse will behave unpredictably.
“Attempting to suppress horses’ natural stress response puts them at risk – those used to control rowdy crowds are often the targets of hooligans. Earlier this week, a horse was struck with an umbrella at a St George’s Day protest, and in 2020, crowds threw glass bottles and even a bike at mounted officers.
“Tradition is no excuse for cruelty. Just as the practise of using horses to pull buggies has long since faded from our streets with the advent of cars, so must our ever-evolving knowledge of animal sentience spell the end of horse exploitation by our police and military.”
Where the horses ran in London
A map of where the animals went:
What is the Household Cavalry?
Two of the five Household Cavalry horses that rampaged through central London suffered serious injuries but are still alive, according to a minister.
But what is the Household Cavalry? The Independent takes a look below
Read the full article from Alexander Butler here:
Household Cavalry horse spooked as rider thrown to ground in new London incident
Things ‘not looking good’ for Quaker – military source
A military source has told The Sun that things “aren’t looking good” for the black horse Quaker as Vida returns to her stables overnight after an operation.
Army bosses have claimed it is ‘too early to know’ if the pair that rampaged through central London will ever return to active duty.
An Army spokesman said: “Vida was the most visibly injured and the pictures of the horse running through London soaked in blood were horrifying.
“Vida was operated on overnight and is currently in stables at the Hyde Park Barracks under observation. Quaker was also operated on overnight but it was decided to move the horse to an equine hospital for more specialist treatment.”
Two injured horses may never return to duty
Two horses that needed surgery after being badly wounded may never return to duty.
The British Army wrote on social media: “Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course.”
Two horses in serious condition
Two of the horses who bolted and ran loose in London on Wednesday are in a serious condition, a minister has said.
Defence minister James Cartlidge told Sky News: “There were five horses. They have all been recovered. Three of them are fine, two of them are unfortunately in a relatively serious condition and obviously we will be monitoring that condition.”
He added: “They are in a serious condition, but as I understand, still alive.”
Asked about the condition of two of the horses by LBC, the minister said he “wouldn’t want to say more” than that they were in a serious condition.
Watch: Witness recalls chaos as horses ran through London streets
Witness recalls chaos as blood-soaked horses ran loose through London
A witness has recalled the chaos he saw as blood-soaked horses ran loose through central London after breaking free from the Household Cavalry on Wednesday, 24 April. Jordan Pettitt, a photographer with PA Media, was in Aldwych working when the animals charged past him. He was able to take pictures of the horses running past at speed. Mr Pettitt described the chaos to Sky News as a “surreal” moment. “It’s not something I would ever expect to see in London, nor would anyone,” he added, before wishing those injured a speedy recovery. Four people were taken to hospital after they were injured in the incident.
Source: independent.co.uk
