Runaway Military Horses Cause Chaos in London Streets
In a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie, several military horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment caused chaos in the streets of London on Wednesday morning. The normally well-trained horses broke into a panicked stampede, galloping through some of the city’s most famous sites and leaving a trail of damaged vehicles and shocked pedestrians in their wake.
According to the London Ambulance Service, four people were treated for injuries, including a soldier who was thrown from one of the horses during the chaotic incident. The horses, which are usually symbols of London’s regal past and participate in royal pageants, turned an ordinary rush hour into a frightening and almost surreal spectacle.
The drama began shortly after 8 a.m. when the horses were spooked by noise from a nearby construction site and threw off their military riders during routine exercises. The riderless horses were seen galloping past Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, and other iconic landmarks, causing pedestrians to scatter, buses to stop abruptly, and cars to honk in confusion.
Video footage captured the surreal scene of the horses running wild through the streets, with one white horse splattered with blood on its neck, chest, and forelimbs. Unexpected encounters between the animals and the urban landscape resulted in damaged vehicles, including a double-decker tour bus with a smashed windshield and a gray Mercedes van with dented doors and smashed windows.
As the incident unfolded, newspapers and broadcasters provided live coverage, capturing the attention of the entire city. The Metropolitan Police worked with the army to locate and corral the loose horses, with two of them being captured near Limehouse after making their way across Central London.
An army spokesman confirmed that the horses had been recovered and returned to their barracks, but noted that both personnel and horses had sustained injuries and were receiving medical attention. The Household Cavalry, known for their appearances in royal pageants, is made up of the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals, the two most senior units in the British Army.
The incident on Wednesday was highly unusual, as the cavalry’s horses are typically trained to be comfortable in busy streets and around people. Tourists often pose for pictures with the horses when they stand guard at Horse Guards Parade, but the unexpected stampede served as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of these majestic animals.
