Goodnight, Audrey

With a heavy heart, we bring the news of another loss from our wonderful herd. Audrey, formerly of the Royal Logistics Corps has crossed the rainbow bridge at the age of 18.

An elegant bay Thoroughbred mare, Audrey came to us back in 2020 after spending seven years with the Royal Logistics Corps. Her career was a little different from many of our herd here at The Horse Trust, as stunning Audrey took part in a variety of traditional equestrian activities rooted in combat from horseback, including Mounted Skills at Arms and Tent Pegging, competing in these events at many high-profile shows throughout her career, for example at Royal Windsor Horse Show and the Royal Tournament.

Even more uniquely, Audrey had participated in many First World War Commemorative events and Living History displays both in Britain and also on the continent, with her performing several of these reenactments in Belgium. This meant Audrey would often wear all the tack and equipment a cavalry horse would have carried in the First World War to educate people on what these heroic equines who lost their lives during the conflict would’ve looked like on the battlefield. A capable and reliable mare, Audrey was the only horse to have led a mounted contingent through the Menin Gate in living memory, which was part of the Last Hurrah ride in 2018, a 100k ride across several of the battlefields in France and Belgium to commemorate the centenary of the First World War and raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

This incredibly varied career ended for Audrey when she was diagnosed with a condition commonly known as kissing spines and therefore, she could no longer be ridden. Retiring to us in 2020, we were all immediately enamoured with her gentle demeanour and stunning beauty upon her arrival. Audrey took to retired life like a duck to water and for the past four years had enjoyed being out at pasture with a herd of fellow retired mares of which Charisma, former cavalry horse and Iris, former Metropolitan Police horse, were her closest pals. She was also often seen on our stable yard greeting visitors, enjoying interactions with supporters as the placid and kind soul she was.

Audrey had been suffering with an ongoing lameness for a little while, which was being closely monitored and managed by our veterinary team. Despite stellar treatment, this lameness progressed and sadly she was no longer responding to her pain medication. To avoid Audrey reaching any further level of discomfort, it was in her best interest to put her to sleep. May she now forever run pain free, rest in peace Audrey. HTx