Horse that bolted through London retires

A military horse that bolted through London after being startled by construction work has retired.

Quaker, 15, was one of five horses from the Life Guards Squadron spooked by rubble being dropped down a chute next to them while on an exercise in Belgravia in April last year.

Four service personnel were thrown from their horses, and the animals that ran loose smashed into vehicles, smashing into a taxi and the windscreen of a parked double-decker tour bus.

Paramedics 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.

City of London Police managed to capture the horses after nearly half an hour in Limehouse after bolting from Wilton Crescent.

Footage of two of the frightened horses dashing through the streets of London covered in blood made headlines around the world.

Quaker and another horse, Vida, were seriously injured and spent time recovering at The Horse Trust in Buckinghamshire, which has cared for service horses for 139 years.

After receiving expert veterinary treatment and undergoing surgery, Quaker is now returning to the charity's sanctuary to spend his retirement among 32 former military working horses living there permanently.

"His life here will be one of ease, of rest and relaxation, one we're all gonna want, really," Jeanette Allen, CEO of The Horse Trust, told Sky News.

"He's going to be wandering around in fields with a nice herd of friends, some of whom he will have served with, like the horse he's with now, Marquis.

"They will literally just eat all day, mooch around, play with each other, groom each other, and interact with humans if he wants to - or not interact with us if he doesn't."

Louise Sandher-Jones, minister for veterans and people, said Quaker's "well-deserved retirement comes after a stellar career in the Armed Forces".

"We have a commitment to all who serve our nation, including our much-loved service animals," Ms Sandher-Jones said, adding: "This partnership with The Horse Trust also shows how the Army looks after its military working horses and will improve animal welfare."

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Three of the horses that bolted during the incident went on to have roles in last year's Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Tennyson, Trojan and Vanquish participated in the King's birthday parade after making "swift and successful" recoveries.

(c) Sky News 2025: Horse that bolted through London retires