The Horse Trust Sets The Record Straight On 21st Century War Horses

Amongst the former Army horses retired to The Horse Trust are 26 year old Sevastopol, a striking grey ex-trumpeter with the Blues and Royals, Hapsburg a 19yr old bay gelding from the Kings Troop Royal Artillery and Auriol, a ‘Cavalry Black’, recently loaned to the Honourable Artillery Company‘s Light Cavalry having recovered from concussion laminitis. His old work onLondon’s streets was aggravating his condition while his new role will be less demanding and mainly on soft surfaces.   When Auriol is no longer able or happy in this work he will retire permanently back to The Horse Trust.  The Riding Master of the Light Cavalry, Charles Gillow, commented ”It has been a privilege to give Auriol an opportunity to continue his working career in a familiar role, with less street work, and regular exercise in Windsor Great Park. It has been reassuring to the Light Cavalry to know that the Horse Trust is ready to look after our retirees when they can no longer handle the work.  Currently, we have three ex-Light Cavalry horses enjoying their retirement at the Horse Trust”.

One of the ex-army residents of The Horse Trust is former King’s Troop Charger Rocket Ron, a perfect example of how the DAC and The Horse Trust collaborate to secure the most suitable future for horses with very individual needs. Ron started out with the King’s Troop but never settled on parade and so was moved to the DAC centre at Melton Mowbray where he became an invaluable training horse, helping soldiers learn to ride and also training those becoming Army riding instructors. Sadly, he developed chronic girth galls, a condition that strikes when a horse has particularly sensitive skin and being ridden for long periods became too painful for him. Being only 14, The Horse Trust initially tried loaning Rocket Ron to a private home.  However he displayed some highly institutionalised behaviour that made him a potential danger in a very small yard. Back at The Horse Trust, Ron is extremely happy and settled in a larger environment with many more horses surrounding him and his training skills are now being put to great use helping The Horse Trust train young rescue horses and ponies, helping the charity to secure the best possible loan homes for the youngsters.

CEO of the Horse Trust,Jeanette Allensaid, “Rocket Ron is a prime example of an ex-army horse that requires a very specific retirement environment. He is now not only happily settled but is able to do light part time work leading young animals venturing onto roads for the first time. He may have never liked parades but out and about he is an absolute dream giving young ponies that have suffered extreme cruelty and neglect, including three from the notorious Spindles Farm case, the confidence to become beloved riding ponies in the future.”