Beloved War Horse star Joey and his creator Michael Morpurgo were reunited at London Paddington to meet a train named after them.

The life-sized puppet Joey from the theatre production of the First World War novel made his way through crowds of commuters at the terminal on 30 October to Mr Morpurgo and his wife Clare, who unveiled the Great Western Railways (GWR) Intercity Express 802007, which has “Joey” displayed at one end and “Michael Morpurgo” at the other.

“Having my name on the side of a train is not something I ever thought I would see, so to have that honour alongside Joey, who has been in my life for more than 40 years, fills me with joy,” Mr Morpurgo said.

“In this age of phones dominating our lives, a long train journey is one of the few places where we can stop and read a good book, occasionally lifting our eyes to take in the marvellous views we’re lucky to travel through.

“I’m grateful to GWR and the National Theatre for allowing Joey to be part of this special day, and for GWR’s ongoing work with local organisations like Farms for City Children, showing their commitment to supporting communities beyond just getting from A to B.

“I shall give Joey a ‘hello, you’ pat every time before I get on the train and have a good ride. And a ‘thank you’ pat when I get off.”

Some of the cast of the National Theatre production of War Horse played music from the production as they and Joey made their way through the station – making an unscheduled stop for Joey to meet another literary star, Paddington Bear. Among guests were representatives of Farms for City Children, the charity founded by Mr and Mrs Morpurgo nearly 50 years ago to allow urban children the chance to spend time on farms.

GWR’s HR director Ashley Bray said: “We were thrilled to welcome Michael and Clare to Paddington today to unveil not one, but two new liveries on Intercity Express 802007.

“Michael and Clare have contributed a huge amount to the communities of Devon, both through their writing and with the Farms for City Children charity. This train is our way of thanking them for their ongoing commitment to the people of this beloved corner of the Great Western network.

“As we reflect on 200 years of the railway and mark the launch of this year’s Poppy Appeal, we cannot fail to think of those who sacrificed their lives in the service of our country, and War Horse tells that story better than most.”

Michael waved the train off on its maiden voyage, as Joey cantered along the platform.

Farms for City Children CEO Corinna Csaky said: “I’m delighted to celebrate this special moment with our founders, Michael and Clare, and to see their remarkable dedication to Farms for City Children and our local communities in Devon recognised.

“It’s wonderful to know that children, now and for years to come, will be able to reach and experience the joys of the countryside aboard the train named for Michael and Joey.”

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The belief that war horses are no longer used in battle is not entirely true. The first evidence of horses in warfare dates back to some time around 1500–3000BC, with warriors fighting on horseback from around 900BC. And while battle cavalry was a still crucial element of the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War in the 19th century, by the 20th century, more mechanic forms of attack began to prevail.

By World War I, horses were no match for tank warfare, and around eight million horses died – nearly half a million of them British. More hearteningly, British Army Veterinary Corps successfully treated over half a million horses during the World War I. A few cavalry units were still in action in World War II. However, they were more commonly used for transporting supplies and troops rather than the previous role in the thick of battle as chargers.

While horses have no place in modern Western warfare – as witnessed in Ukraine – in developing countries, they are still used by armed fighters, and indeed the US Army special forces used local horses in battle in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan. However, for the main part, mercifully, a “war horse’s” role is reserved for historical reenactments, mounted patrol and ceremonial or educational purposes.

What breed is a war horse?

War horses came in many shapes and sizes, and were allocated roles according to their physical capabilities. Much like the men who were conscripted to fight, civilian horses that were fit and strong enough to help fight the cause were enlisted. We are familiar with the sight of a relative lightweight breed as war horses – similar to a thoroughbred/warmblood, but this is probably due to the fact that the most famous ones were ridden by the noblemen, such as the Duke of Wellington’s Copenhagen, and therefore commemorated forever as statues.

The heavier draught horses, such as Percherons, Friesians, Shires and Clydesdales, were used for pulling wagons with cannons or artillery, or transporting troops and supplies. These colder-blooded horses were more disposed to remain calm in battle with the noise of gunfire. Joey, the fictitious war horse from the eponymous book by Michael Morpurgo, was this sort – a plough horse who was used to pull carts with wounded soldiers and infantry guns.

Middleweight horses – similar to the modern warmblood – were used both to pull wagons and to carry heavily armoured soldiers in battle, but they lacked the speed and endurance of the lighter cavalry. They were also used for reconnaissance missions, supply, raiding and communication.

The lighter, faster types, such as thoroughbreds, Arabs, Barbs and Akhal Tekes were used for cavalry charges and warfare requiring speed, endurance and agility. Because these breeds are not weight carriers, their riders typically carried little armour and used lightweight weapons such as bows, spears and rifles.

Recent research has show that medieval war horses were more likely to be pony-sized, with horses of 15hh and above actually very rare. Researchers also said it is likely that throughout the medieval period, different conformations of horses would have become desirable in response to changing battlefield tactics and cultural preferences.

Horses in the modern day Household Cavalry can be a variety of breeds, usually Irish Draughts (and crosses), but can also be Cleveland Bay, Fresian or warmblood. The ‘Cavalry Black’ refers to any black horse that meets the required height and conformation standards set by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Horses in World War I

At the start of WWI, many horses were enrolled as part of the cavalry, and the British Army entered the war with 25,000 horses at their disposal. They purchased a further 115,000 under the compulsory Horse Mobilisation Scheme, which involved acquiring horses from domestic and international sources.

As the horses were so vulnerable to modern machine gun fire, by the end of the war their role was more about transporting troops and ammunition. Military vehicles were relatively new at this time, which meant that horses and mules were seen as a more reliable and accessible form of transport. Thousands of horses were used to pull field guns – but with up to 12 horses required to pull each gun, exhaustion was a real problem.

Around 484,000 British horses died in World War I, which is one for every two British soldiers. The largest single day of loss occurred during the Battle of Verdun in 1916, with 7,000 horses killed by long-range shelling and single shots.

Vets treated 2.5m horses during World War I – of these, 2m recovered and were returned to the battlefield, but it could take carers up to 12 hours to clean a horse and its harness after battle.

Much to the relief of British horse owners, due to advances in mechanisation there were far fewer horses needed by the British Army in WWII. In 1942, the British employed 6,500 horses, which was a small figure compared to the 2.75 million and 3.5 million used by the German and Soviet armies.

Famous war horses

Like comparing Arkle with Best Mate, it’s invidious to compare the best of a generation across the decades, or even centuries. However, there are a handful of war horses who go down in the annals of greatness.

Copenhagen

The Duke of Wellington’s chestnut charger in the Napoleonic Wars. The Arab/throroughbred was named for the second battle of Copenhagen, won by the British. His day of days (and consequently the whole nation’s) came on 18 June, 1815, during the Battle of Waterloo, when Wellington’s main opponent, the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, was defeated.

Copenhagen was extremely well-bred for the racetrack (though he won only two races), with both his grandparents (Eclipse and John Bull) being Derby winners. Copenhagen enjoyed a happy retirement at the Duke’s Hampshire estate until his death at 28, and apparently had a penchant for sponge cakes and chocolate creams. He was honoured with a full military funeral.

An Arabian stallion called Marengo was Copenhagen’s opposite number, ridden by Napoleon – but as he was captured by the Brits in the Battle of Waterloo, Copenhagen gets the nod.

Warrior

General Jack Seely’s aptly named charger in World War I was dubbed the horse the Germans couldn’t kill on account of the number of misses he survived.

Warrior eventually died at the age of 33, having carried his master safely through four years of war, from Ypres to the Somme, Passchendaele and Cambria, finally leading a cavalry charge which crucially checked the great German offensive in the spring of 1918.

Jack Seely writes in his book, Warrior: The Amazing Story Of A Real War Horse, “In the War nearly all Warrior’s comrades were killed, and nearly all of mine, but we both survived, and largely because of him.”

Bucephalus

The favourite horse of Alexander the Great, one of the most famous generals of antiquity. Legend has it that a 13-year-old Alexander was gifted the horse and he later accompanied him in many battles, with the horse eventually being killed in the Battle Hyadspes River in 326BC.

To honour the horse, Alexander built a city named after Bucephalus in what is now Pakistan.

Sergeant Reckless

Unlike the speedy chargers with mostly thoroughbred blood, Reckless was a Mongolian mare used by the US Marine Corps in the Korean War in 1952.

Centuries earlier, Ghengis Khan and his soldiers conquered lands from Hungary to Korea riding Mongol horses, so this small, durable breed is no back number in the battle field.

Reckless would transport supplies and evacuate soldiers, continuing despite being injured twice. She was so named for her fearless nature, and was given the rank of Sergeant in 1954 having conducted 51 solo rides in one day. She amused the unit with her liking for scrambled eggs and beer.

A modern-day ‘war horse’

The modern event horse has very recent roots in war horses. From 1912 to 1948, all eventing competitors were male, rode in military uniform and were commissioned officers. Only in 1964 were women allowed to compete – the concept hitherto being that if the cross-county mirrored a battle field, an injured soldier would continue (thereby not letting down his country – or his team), whereas if a female rider fell off her male team-mates would not expect her to continue.

Eventing was often referred to as “the military” in its early days, when the competition served as a the complete test of an officer’s battle charger. The dressage signified the horse’s ability to perform ceremonial parades and show obedient training in formation; the cross-country tested speed, endurance, and boldness as they would need in battle, while the showjumping showed if a horse was sound after “battle” and could recover well enough to perform a simple jumping test.

Many eventers in the early part of the 20th century were real-life war horses. Seweryn Kulesza won a silver medal as part of the Polish eventing team riding his horse Tóska at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. A few years later, he rode this same horse as his battle charger in World War II, when the mare was killed, Seweryn was captured by the Germans and spent the rest of the war in Oflag VII-A Murnau prisoner-of-war camp.

Of all the horses competing in Olympic disciplines, eventers – typically near thoroughbred, or lightweight warmbloods with a high percentage of thoroughbred – show the closest link to the battle chargers that fought on behalf of his country or territory over millennia.

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The award-winning stage production of War Horse is returning to UK theatres in a major tour this autumn.

The National Theatre production of Michael Morpurgo’s novel opens at the New Wimbledon Theatre on 5 September and will run on stages across the country until 4 January 2025, with “future dates and venues to be announced”.

War Horse, adapted by Nick Stafford and originally directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, is the most successful play in the history of the National Theatre, winning more than 25 major awards and seen by more than 8.3 million people worldwide.

“This all-new tour is co-produced with Michael Harrison, Fiery Angel, and Playing Field,” a National Theatre spokesman said.

“War Horse tells the remarkable story of a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, set against the backdrop of the First World War. This powerfully moving and imaginative drama is a show of phenomenal inventiveness, filled with stirring music and songs, featuring ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping, charging, horses to thrilling life on stage and has inspired a generation of theatre-makers since its premiere in 2007.”

Mr Morris said it was a “huge privilege” to be invited to revisit War Horse.

“Michael Morpurgo’s brilliant idea, to explore the crushing violence of war through the experience of a horse, makes his story as powerful and resonant today as it has ever been,” he said.

Mr Morpurgo added that he was delighted by the production’s return.

“When Covid closed the show down in 2020 in Australia in the midst of its second world tour, many thought, and I was among them, that we’d never see War Horse on stage again.

“Now it’s really happening – we will hear the music and songs, be amazed by its design and lighting, and live Joey’s story again. War Horse is about the tragedy of war and about a horse and his boy, but it’s also so many other things – it‘s about family and community, courage and loss, hope, and most importantly reconciliation.”

The tour starts 110 years after the First World War broke out, and over 40 years since the book was written.

National Theatre executive director Kate Varah said: “We are delighted that we are able to launch this major new UK tour of War Horse. This moving and spectacular production has captured the imagination of millions of audience members across the world since it was first performed on the Olivier stage in 2007 and we are deeply appreciative and excited to be working with our co-producers to make this possible in the current landscape. We look forward to connecting with our partner venues with this much-loved story, which appeals to all ages and which beautifully showcases the magic of live performance.”

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Across the country today (11 November), those who have died in the line of duty will be remembered with two minutes’ silence at 11am.

Armistice Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of hostilities of World War One on that date in 1918 — and the role that horses played during the Great War is something that must never be forgotten.

In 2015, two rare horse–lifting boxes that were used to transport the army horses to and from the frontline, were discovered and subsequently displayed at an exhibition by The Horse Trust at its home of rest for horses in Speen, Buckinghamshire.

Many myths had grown up regarding the fate of the British army horses at the end of the Great War and the welfare of war horses throughout the conflict, and so The Horse Trust commissioned military historian Dr. David Kenyon to research the role of British horses throughout the war years.

When the exhibition was opened to the public in August 2014 as part of the centenary commemorations of the outbreak of war, the trust searched far and wide for genuine artefacts of the period.

After some persistence, Horse Trust Chief Executive Jeannette Allen tracked down this pair of heavy horse-lifting boxes that appeared to have been used in the monumental mobilisation and de-mobilisation.

These sort of boxes offered a much kinder way of lifting horses that would otherwise be hoisted with slings when tides or unsuitable wharves made gang-planks impossible.

It was, by any measure, a herculean task. As they set sail for France in 1914 the British Expeditionary Force in France took 165,000 horses, the vast majority of them requisitioned and collected in just 12 days. It was truly a miracle of organisation and co-operation, but one of the greatest challenges of that mobilisation was the ongoing transportation of the horse to the battlefields in France.

The horse lifting boxes were fundamental to getting the horses to France through east London’s dockyards. Unlike soldiers, horses don’t walk up steep gangplanks very easily, so this sort of lifting box would be hoisted over the gunwales of a ship by crane and lowered into the hold where horses were stabled. Those same boxes were used in 1918 to bring over 60,000 horses back home through those same docks, although many thousands more did not make the return journey.

Thankfully the vendor was able to authenticate their provenance. Anthony Reeve of LASSCO (London Architectural Salvage and Supply Company) explained: “The boxes had come from the Museum of London where LASSCO had helped the Museum of London clear vast stores of non-accessioned collections from the Royal Docks, London. Amongst the anchors, gang-planks and cannon were two large crates — like heavy duty carts without wheels.

“These were ‘horse-lifting boxes’, rare survivors, originally from the London dockyards. With a door at each end, lifting points at each corner, remains of a padded interior and iron hoops over the top, to prevent a horse rearing.”

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A “truly magnificent” edition of the novel War Horse is to be released next week to mark the book’s 40th anniversary.

Author Michael Morpurgo and illustrator Christian Birmingham will be at the Game Fair on 28 July for the launch of the illustrated limited edition.

War Horse, which has inspired a Steven Spielberg film and West End stage production, tells the story of Joey and follows him from his home on an English farm to – and through – the First World War, told entirely from Joey’s perspective.

The limited edition is hand-bound and signed by the author and illustrator.

“One of the stories I wrote 40 years ago is War Horse,” Mr Morpurgo said. “It’s a book I love dearly. It’s been very good to me, and I know Joey the horse like a member of the family.

“The story tells of how a horse and boy, Albert, are separated by the Great War and their journey to find each other again. The whole war is seen through the eyes of this horse, who of course didn’t take sides. Starting as a British cavalry horse, he is then captured by the Germans and looked after by the French through the winter. Joey is a neutral observer of this war; he doesn’t take sides, he just lives through and suffers just as the men and women did, as well.

“Books Illustrated has added this story to their list of classic books and found the most extraordinary illustrator, Christian Birmingham, with whom I’ve worked with before on The Butterfly Lion. They’ve put together this truly magnificent version of my story in three different bindings. This is the most remarkable version of my book and the words and the pictures will come together like a symphony in your head.”

Flying the flag

The Game Fair (28-30 July) will also be “flying the flag” for trail hunting.

On each day, three hunts will parade hounds in the main arena, and hunt staff will demonstrate how they work the hounds while following a trail. On the Sunday, the Ross Harriers will perform a trail-laying demonstration to show how hounds legally follow a trail.

“The idea is to debunk any myths surrounding the pastime and educate visitors on why it is an essential part of rural Britain,” a spokesman for the event said.

Another three packs will be seen in the hound exhibition, next to the Horse & Hound Arena, where visitors can meet hunt staff and see an exhibition of hunt buttons and coats from the 1780s.

Sunday afternoon will feature the inter-hunt relay a knockout competition involving up to 12 teams.

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Three life-size horse sculptures created in honour of the fallen horses of World War I have been unveiled.

The statues, titled Icarus, Sports Horse Mare and Youngster, were commissioned by housebuilder Crest Nicholson for the company’s Aborfield Green site in Wokingham to commemorate the “rich history” of the site, which was previously a remount depot and horse hospital, supplying the military with horses for operational use from 1904.

Sculptor Amy Goodman started work on the life-size iron resin statues in 2018, and following Covid-related delays, they were unveiled on 11 June in a ceremony attended by the mayor of Wokingham borough, local dignitaries and special guests from the community.

“This was a very wonderful and challenging commission for Crest Nicholson. It honours the fallen horses of World War One, most of whom did not return home,” said Amy.

“I wanted it to be as historically accurate as possible and was able to base one of my sculptures on a Cleveland Bay stallion at Cholderton Farm, which was just five minutes from my studio. I created the rearing light draught Icarus war horse sculpture, with a hogged mane and short tail and the branding on his quarters and hooves inscribed with the date 1918, to serve as a reminder of his history.”

Amy added that as a reference to the recreational riding of today she sculpted a sports horse mare, and a yearling, ahead of Icarus to represent “past, present and future”.

“I had a very intense five and a half months doing the clay work on my own, but this was a dream commission for me, and I relish working at this scale. I wanted to capture ‘life’ in the horses, so I modelled the clay intuitively using fast movements and texture, and we finished the sculptures using iron-rust patina which is exceptionally vibrant and should complement the green of the beautiful surrounding landscape,” she said.

“A special mention must go to Andrew Ryman, Gabi, Rosie, and the rest of the brilliant team at Ryman & Leader Sculpture Castings, who moulded and cast this project, and whose endless enthusiasm is brilliant.”

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Crest Nicholson director of sales and marketing David Hynda said the company was pleased to celebrate the unveiling of the “striking” sculptures.

“Arborfield Green has been developed in line with Crest Nicholson’s garden village concept, which aims to create community-minded homes surrounded by green open space,” he said.

“This public art is located next to a new bridleway being created and for years to come will act as a reminder to the community of the rich military history of the site.”

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A cob who works pulling tourist carriages has been named as the first of 100 ambassadors for the charity War Horse Memorial.

The list of horses, compiled from public nominations, includes famous First World War heroes such as Warrior and Songster, but also modern-day equines who are “heroes” to those around them.

Annie, a 10-year-old cob, was the first horse to be chosen by the charity, thanks to her role as an ambassador during “purple poppy” commemorations — during last year’s appeal, she helped raise £3,360.

The 14.3hh mare is owned by Kirk and Hannah Petrakis, who operate K&H carriages in Cockington, near Torquay in Devon.

Kirk contacted the War Horse Memorial in 2018 when the charity was just beginning to become involved with the purple poppy appeal and Annie became the first horse to “host” the occasion in Devon.

“I had been raising money for the Royal British Legion but I really wanted to do something more to recognise the role horses, mules and donkeys played in war,” he said. “It’s something I was passionate about and it’s good to see it more and more widely recognised.”

Kirk’s interest in the role of equines in war was inspired by Cockington, which he describes as a village with a strong “horse heritage”.

“During research I found out that the owner of the estate was a major in the Royal Artillery, he lost his life in the war and most of the horses from the estate would have gone with him,” he said. “We have even got a plaque in the village dedicated to equines.”

Kirk said he felt Annie was perfect for the role of ambassador as she represents the “typical horse that would have been taken to the front, and the owners would have had no choice.”

“She has a lovely personality, she’s the kind of horse who knows when you’re sad. She’s very much a friend and the relationship you have with her is similar to the relationship soldiers would have had with horses during the war,” said Kirk, who bought Annie three years ago from Blackpool, where she pulled carriages along the sea front.

“On the purple poppy days when people see her, they really respond.”

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Eight horses out of 100 are currently named on the list, and also include successful showing competitor Turbo, owned by Lizzie Ozeman.

Nominations are still open, and can be submitted to the War Horse Memorial at susan@thewarhorsememorial.org

Funds raised by War Horse Memorial’s purple poppy appeal support charities including Brooke, World Horse Welfare, Household Cavalry Foundation and Royal Artillery Chartitable Fund.

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Britain’s Land Girls and the 500,000 horses they laboured alongside are being remembered as the country marks 80 years since the start of World War Two.

Working animal charity SPANA is calling on the public to honour the women and their equine colleagues, who worked on the UK’s farms to help feed Britain throughout the six years of conflict.

The Women’s Land Army (WLA), first established in 1917 during World War One, was reformed in June 1939, a few months before the outbreak of war. They were called on to fill the void left by the male farm workforce, who had been drafted to fight.

Britain, which was heavily reliant on food imports, had its ships subjected to continued attacks from the Germans, making an increase in domestic food production critical.

At its peak in 1944, there were more than 80,000 Land Girls working Britain’s fields. They worked closely with horses, who outnumbered tractors 30 to one during this era.

Historian Ruth Goodman, whose television series Wartime Farm highlighted the work of the WLA said that many of the female workforce had never lived away from the city.

“[They were] immediately thrown into every variety of farm work – from using horse-driven ploughs, to milking cows and delivering produce on a pony cart,” she said.

Dame Vera Lynn branded the women “without question among the unsung heroes of World War Two”, adding that they “couldn’t have succeeded without their horsepower”.

“When the WLA was reformed at the start of the war, Britain was producing less than a third of its food by 1939, but – thanks to the enormous efforts of the Land Girls – this rose to 70% by 1943,” she said.

“Many women formed close bonds with the animals that worked side by side with them.”

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Geoffrey Dennis, chief executive of SPANA, which provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries, described the Land Girl’s contribution as “monumental”.

“At a pivotal time in our history, the Land Girls and the animals that stood side by side with them helped to fuel the war effort on the home front. We owe so much to this army in the fields.

“Working animals, such as horses, donkeys and mules, are still vital to the survival of people in the poorest communities around the world today. Often working closely with women, these animals are a lifeline – helping to provide food, water and livelihoods. It’s important that we also recognise the contribution of this silent workforce – both then and now.”

The WLA’s work continued after the end of World War Two, with the land army finally disbanded in 1950. In 2008, surviving Land Girls were awarded a badge of honour at Downing Street.

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Promises have been made that the grave of a famous war horse will be protected following news that the land the grave is located in is set to be redeveloped.

The grave of ‘Blackie the war horse’, an equine hero who fought and survived the battles of the First World War, was given grade II listed status, which protected the site at the RSPCA centre in Halewood, Liverpool, in 2017. The charity has since announced the centre is set to close at the end of May.

Blackie served at the battles of Arras, Somme, Ypres and Cambrai before returning to Britain where he lived into his late 30s. His was the first war horse grave to be granted heritage protection by Historic England after a member of the public contacted them with concerns that it was threatened by proposed building work.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said the decision to close the centre was made because Knowsley Council had “redesignated the land” for residential development.

But the council said the charity made the decision to close the branch due to financial reasons.

“The site known as East of Halewood was allocated for residential development in 2016 when Knowsley’s local plan was adopted. The land occupied by the RSPCA was included in this. However, at the time, the council was advised that the RSPCA would remain on that site and it was not available for development. It has always been clear that if the site was vacated, it would be suitable for residential development as per the local plan policy.

“This means that the land occupied by the RSPCA is now shown as available for development in the draft East of Halewood masterplan.”

The spokesman said the draft masterplan includes proposals to “protect and enhance” Blackie’s grave.

The timing of the development of the land is dependent upon developers bringing forward a proposal. A public consultation on the draft masterplan is running until 5pm on Wednesday 10 April for people to share their views www.consultations.knowsley.gov.uk.

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The RSPCA spokesman said the centre will continue to operate until the end of May.

“The animals being cared for at the centre will then be moved to alternative RSPCA accommodation,” said the spokesman.

“The trustees of the branch would like to thank supporters for their help over the years and reassure people that the day-to-day business of the branch will continue until the closure. They would also like to reassure people that in the future, animals at risk in the Liverpool area will still get the help they need and continue to be cared for at other RSPCA centres.”

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A campaign to remember the many millions of animals killed in conflicts has been launched to mark 100 years since the end of the World War I.

Former MP Ann Widdecombe today (8 November) launched charity SPANA’s campaign to remember the “forgotten victims” of today’s war zones.

“On this significant anniversary of the First World War, it’s so important that we first and foremost remember the people who lost their lives during this terrible conflict and then consider also those who returned disabled and disfigured and the civilians who died,” she said.

“They faced unimaginable horrors. Then, as we stop to remember all those who suffered and died a century ago, we must also not forget that animals continue to be innocent victims in brutal conflicts across the world today.”

Around 16 million animals were put into service during the war, including more than a million horses and mules used by Britain.

They faced terrible conditions while transporting ammunition, ambulances, messages, food rations and supplies.

Nine million horses, donkeys and other animals were killed.

Animals were also used in the World War II by forces on both sides. Britain had around 200,000 animals in service, the US military had 14,000 mules in Italy alone, while Germany lost more than 179,000 horses in two months on the Eastern Front.

SPANA continues to work in conflict areas to help animals in need, whether they are used in war or are injured as a result of fighting.

It provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries, including in conflict zones.

The charity set up a mobile veterinary clinic in Iraq in 2003 following a request for urgent help for equines and farm animals, providing care and 30 tonnes of feed.

SPANA also worked in Helmand province, Afghanistan, where local people are heavily reliant on working animals. In 2010, SPANA worked to rebuild shattered infrastructure, training animal health workers and equipping them with worming and vaccination kits.

“In recent years, SPANA has worked in war zones – from Kosovo and Iraq to Afghanistan – to provide urgent veterinary treatment to animals in severe distress,” said charity chief executive Geoffrey Dennis.

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“Our work eases suffering and also helps build the peace among communities who continue to rely on animals.

“As we commemorate Armistice Day, it is a sad reality that the appalling suffering of animals in conflict zones is not a distant memory, consigned to history.

“But while there are animals in desperate need, during times of war and peace, it is vital that help is on hand for them.”

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This week’s issue — out today (Thursday, 8 November) — is a World War I, featuring including horse hero Warrior, plus one diary reveals equine life during battle and more.

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A huge war horse has appeared in a Suffolk field to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

It is one of a series of ploughed artworks produced by geography teacher Carlo Roberts and his friend Stefan Fulcher on land owned by farmer Tom Baldwin.

“We’ve created these things before but never a horse,” said Carlo. “We wanted to commemorate the centenary of the end of the war, as well as remember the contribution horses made to the war effort.”

The 120m x 250m land art took around two days to create, with Carlo making preliminary sketches before the finalised image was marked out by hand on the field.

The horse was then ploughed in using discs by tractor driver Stefan, with the pair able to check the progress of their work by using a drone.

“Stefan is as much responsible for this as me, I haven’t got a clue with a tractor and he’s clever at working out how to make the lines make sense,” said Carlo. “Obviously it also couldn’t have taken place without the permission of the landowner.”

Carlo’s first venture into ploughed artworks was during 2012 when he wanted to create something to mark the London Olympics, so he approached Tom — who he’d bought a house from — with the idea.

“As well as 2012, one of the most notable [art works] we did was big B17 bomber shadow three years ago,” Carlo said. “In 2016 we also did an electric car with a wire coming out of the back attached to a wind turbine on his land.”

Carlo said the horse had in fact been one of the easier works they had produced.

“The plane was probably the hardest as it was filled in and on an oblique angle,” he said.

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He added that part of what had inspired them to create the horse was some of the ancient chalk examples found around Britain.

“I think horses are very beautiful and as well as considering the contribution they made to the war, we were also are of the tradition of carving huge horses into the landscape, and that was something that made it appealing,” he said.

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Military riders and cyclists have taken part in a 100km ride to mark a century since the end of the First World War and raise funds for the Royal British Legion.

On 10 August 48 riders, cyclists and support crew from the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Australia, New Zealand and Canada left from Kent to travel across the battlefields of France to conclude in Ypres, Belgium on a ride called The Last Hurrah.

The ride, organised by historian Andy Smerdon and Major Will McGill, sought to remember the men, women and equines who gave their lives in the Great War.

Army reservist and military rider Daniel Petho told H&H: “The last 100 days of the First World War was the last big Allied push to break the German lines which ultimately lead to the ending of four long years of severe bloodshed, on Armistice Day in November.

“The reality of how life was then for cavalry troops is something you can only experience by recreating it, you just don’t get that immersive feel watching it on television, it was surreal.”

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Andy Smerdon said: “In these last days of the war, it was very much back to the old cavalry days becoming a war of movement again.”

The ride began in the Amiens region of France, stopping at locations including the Somme memorial at Thiepval, the battlefield of Pozéres, the Tyne Cot War Cemetery and the battlefield of Polygon Wood along the way.

“The ride was advertised by mayors of the towns. Lots of people came to see us from the local towns and had a procession – it was really spectacular. Some of these towns were central points of the war and the commemoration is really engrained there,” said Daniel.

The regiments represented in the ride were: The Royal Flying Corps; The Household Cavalry; The Royal Engineers; The 16^th Lancers; The Essex Yeomanry; The Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry; Northumberland Hussars and The Queens Royal Hussars; The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; The Royal Artillery; The Canadian Cavalry Divisions; and Royal Service Corps

“Every rider present represented his own regiments or regiments of personal links,” said Daniel “One of the riders is currently a farrier who was supplied by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.”

The riders recreated the Battle of Moreiul Wood (30 March 1918) in full 1918 period kit.

“With the heavy kit required to be carried for long periods and then taken into battle is a testament to how fit and robust the horses were back in the early 1900s,” said Daniel.

The ride was also granted access to parade the horses through the Menin Gate at Belgium, where 55,000 names of missing soldiers to 1916 are recorded, the only cavalry unit to have done this since the end of the First World War.

“The very notion that we have been given this special privilege to be the first and only to parade was very emotional to me as we marched through. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I’ll never forget,” said Daniel.

Gary Crosbie and Sarah Lentle of Casting Horses and Nikky Willis of Horses4History supplied horses.

“All the horses supplied were worth their weight in gold, they didn’t put a foot wrong. When we had the cavalry charge, it really felt like a charge – they are jousting horses and knew what was coming. There were various breeds involved and even a mule,” said Daniel.

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A Cleveland Bay was also represented in the ride owned by RAF Wing Commander Russ Gleeson, who laid a wreath on behalf of the RAF 100 and the Cleveland Bay Horse Society.

Russ said: “By the early 1900s the breed was in decline, but the matter was made worse by the First World War where many Clevelands were lost on the battlefields of France and Belgium. The fact they adapted well to the role of artillery horses potentially sealed their own fate.”

“The experience was exhilarating. For me being military, it was having that special connection for those that have perished from my regiment – it really was something nice to commemorate them. We loved every minute of it,” said Daniel.

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Artist Amy Goodman is working on her biggest project yet – to create three life-size horses for a developer on a new estate in Berkshire.

Developers Crest Nicholson has commissioned the works to remember the history of the site, which was once home to a horse hospital during WW1.

Each of the horses symbolises the past, present and future of equestrianism in the Berkshire area.

“I have had a very clear vision from the very start of a rearing Cleveland Bay gunner from WW1, stocky and muscular, yet magnificent. He will be rearing against the sky on a mound, with a retaining gabion wall that would be akin to the wall of a trench,” said Amy.

The horse won’t have any tack on, but his hogged mane and docked tail will be enough to show his role as a warhorse.

Goodman has called him Icarus after the Cleveland Bay stallion standing at Cholderton Farm who inspired her, although her version won’t be entire.

Across from the trench, following the edge of the road so it can be viewed easily by passing traffic, will be a sports horse mare galloping away towards her yearling, who is just ahead of her.

One of the youngsters at the Catherston Stud, home of Jennie Loriston-Clarke was the model for the yearling sculpture.

Poppy seeds are being sown on the ground around the horses to remember their role in WW1.

The site was once home to the Arborfield Garrison, which was originally established as an equine hospital and veterinary centre for the Remount Depot in 1904.

In recognition of the thousands of horses that passed through the centre, the developers are looking at turning the stables, which are situated on the new community village green, into a café, museum, craft workshops or other useful building as part of the project.

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“We were keen to celebrate the vital role the horse has played throughout military history, and so the ‘War Horse’ was identified as the theme for the artist commission,” said Samantha Bryans, development director at Crest Nicholson Regeneration.

“We also wanted to ensure that there was reference to the modern day domestic horse and active equine community local to Arborfield, which is why the three sculptures Amy is producing are a perfect fit for our brief,” she added.

The sculptures are currently being moulded and cast for the unveiling in September.

“We may be able to have Icarus at the unveiling, which would be amazing. The owners have suggested he comes along,” said Ms Goodman.

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A commemorative long distance ride from France to Belgium this September has attracted an international field of 60 riders.

Organised by the International Cavalry Association (ICA), the 100kms ride called “The Pursuit to Mons”, starts in Cambrai on 17 September, finishing in Mons, Belgium on 22 September.

The brainchild of Stanley Watts, the ride follows the route of the Allies as they drove the German army back through Belgium at the end of the First World War.

Coming from Canada are 14 serving or retired soldiers from two units, the 1st Hussars and Lord Strathcona’s Horse.

The Canadians led by Colonal Allan Finney are travelling with all their kit, including saddles, but are being provided with horses by the ICA.

Lord Strathcona’s Horse stopped the German advance at Amiens in 1918, when the regiment’s horsepower proved vital against the opposition, who lacked sufficient cavalry troops as all of their horses were in draft.

“We’re following the canals exactly as the Canadian cavalry did in the First World War,” said Graham Langer, who is organising the horses for the Canadians and other international riders and is taking part himself on a hireling.

The dozen British riders taking part are all bringing or hiring horses from the UK, but Langer is sourcing horses from France and Belgium from some of the international riders.

These are coming from Russia, Australia, USA, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland and Sweden and are all dressing in period dress for the ride.

Swiss riders are bringing their own portable stables, but most others are using electric paddocks or tethering their horses overnight.

En route, riders from France and Belgium are joining sections of the ride, which begins with a parade in Cambrai.

Horses are expected to cover 15 to 25kms a day, mostly across country but going through some towns and villages where they will compete in various military tests.

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On the final weekend the Canadians will lead all the riders into Mons on the Saturday commemorating the 100-year centenary since they liberated the city. Mounted police will escort them from the local forces.

That night the city of Mons is hosting a gala dinner for riders and the 75 ground crew. On Sunday locals can watch a free mounted skills at arms competition in the town’s hippodrome.

All riders taking part are footing the £1,500 entry costs. Any residual funds left over after the costs have been covered will be donated to Brooke, the charity for working horses and donkeys.

Some individual riders have created JustGiving pages for the Brooke and the ICA is looking for sponsorship “to support us in making The Pursuit to Mons a success for all.”

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A horse and rider are to jump a sculpture as part of an art installation commemorating World War One.

The work by UK contemporary artist Katrina Palmer has been commissioned by 14-18 NOW, who are behind a five-year programme of artworks inspired by the centenary of the conflict.

The work, called The Coffin Jump, will be unveiled next month at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield.

It commemorates First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), an exceptional group of women whose role was to rescue injured men from the battlefield.

Founded in 1907 by Captain Edward Baker, his original vision was of women riding on horseback, although in actuality they drove motorised ambulances.

The artwork sits in parkland and will occasionally be jumped by a local horse and rider. Sitting above a trench, it “represents the new challenges and freedoms afforded to women in the war”, as well as invoking mortality.

The park say that the “activation” of the horse and rider jumping the obstacle will symbolise new beginnings, as the “woman and horse cheat death”.

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Katrina Palmer is an artist known for building sculptures using words, often merging written works with visual.

She has drawn from sources including the 1918 diaries of FANY member Muriel Thompson.

FANY faced prejudice during the war, initially being rejected by the British Army and opting to support French and Belgian troops instead.

Hand-painted on the fence will be phrases such as “woman saves man” and “nothing special happened”, which highlight the everyday heroism of women during the period.

FANY continues today as the Princess Royal’s Volunteer Corps and are the longest established uniformed “military” voluntary organisation for women in the world and the only all-women unit remaining in the UK.

Most recently, FANYs were deployed following the terrorist attacks in Manchester, Westminster and London Bridge, and the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

The Coffin Jump, which is co-commisioned by 14-18 NOW and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park — an open air gallery — will be at the park from 16 June 2018 to 16 June 2019.

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This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses 

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A life-sized horse sculpture in memory of the millions of equines who served and died in World War I will be unveiled to the public at Belsay Horse Trials (2-3 June).

Artist James Kemish created the installation using horse shoes and it will stand among 100 crafted poppies, symbolising the centenary of the war.

The artwork is called “The Spirit of Freedom” and will be situated on the cross-country course at the Northumberland fixture, sponsored by Barbour.

“I wanted to make something to remember and honour these beautiful creatures and the extraordinary sacrifice they made during the Great War,” said James.

“We wouldn’t be here today enjoying our own freedom if it wasn’t for horses — I only hope that I have done their memory justice,” said James.

“My wife rides and has competed at Belsay Horse Trials, so it seemed fitting to contact [organiser] Laura de Wesselow and ask whether she would exhibit ‘The Spirit of Freedom’ at the event.

“I am looking forward to talking to competitors and visitors at the trials and gauging their reaction.”

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Laura said she is “absolutely delighted to show-off the amazing sculpture”.

“I think it is a wonderful way for James to reach out to a wider audience of people — who have an interest in all things equestrian — and highlight the plight of all those amazing horses who perished one hundred years ago to safeguard our liberty,” she said.

“We are incredibly proud to be showcasing this beautiful work of art and I hope that visitors will go and marvel at it.”

The sculpture is the second war horse memorial to be revealed in as many months.

In April, Featherstone Town Council unveiled a 20ft sculpture, surrounded by 353 trees — one for each of the men from the town who died in the war — in memory of their sacrifice and to honour the role horses have played in the town’s history.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

This week’s edition (31 May) is a training special, including a look at the world’s top trainers and whether you should have multiple coaches. Also check out our summer clothing guide, interview with showjumper and recent winner of the Hamburg Derby, Matt Sampson and feature on health problems in miniature horses

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Soldiers have recreated at cavalry charge in memory of the hundreds of men and horses who lost their lives during a World War I battle.

On 30 March, a contingent of around 20 soldiers of the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) re-enacted a charge that took place a century before at the Battle of Moreuil Wood.

The soldiers wore cavalry uniforms and galloped with swords drawn alongside members of the Regimental Society of Moreuil, France.

The battle took place on the banks of the Arve river in France and contributed to the halt of the German spring offensive of 1918.

Broadcaster Brough Scott, grandson of Major General Jack Seely who commanded the Canadian cavalry, was among the many to attend the 100th anniversary memorial.

“It was humbling the thought of what they all had to go through,” he told H&H.

“Shifting around, day by day, knowing at some stage you are going to have to go into battle.”

He added standing in the drizzle, hearing the Last Post, watching the charge and seeing the topography of the land was “sobering”.

“There they were, well-fed soldiers and 30-odd horses, whereas you think back 100 years ago and it was the fifth year of the war and 10 days into what we now know as the big collapse,” he said.

Brough has ridden the route members of the cavalry would have taken and his credits as an author include the biography of his grandfather Galloper Jack and the republishing of his grandfather’s book Warrior: The Amazing Story of a Real War Horse.

He explained the Munning’s painting of Lieutent Gordon Flowerdew’s famous charge into German machine gun fire, for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, was just one part of the gruelling battle.

The reality included brutal close-combat fighting, bombs being hand-dropped from planes, mass casualties and confusion.

“It was very close to the end of the war, very close to it all collapsing — but remember they didn’t know who was going to win,” added Brough.

The battle forced the withdrawal of the 23rd German division from Moreuil Wood, but it came at a price — 300 men and 500 horses were lost.

During the 100th anniversary commemorations, mayor of Moreuil Pierre Boulanger granted Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) freedom of the city.

“It is extremely important that we reflect on and commemorate this important milestone in the history of the Strathconas,” said Brigadier-General Trevor Cadieu, commander of the third Canadian division and senior serving Strathcona.

“Those young troopers summoned tremendous courage as metal clashed and they confronted their enemy in hand-to-hand combat.

“Their valour continues to inspire us today as we enhance the resilience and warrior ethos of our soldiers, and as we prepare for operations in other theatres.”

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A Canadian Army spokesman told H&H that the Canadian government is “dedicated to commemorating the sacrifices” of its brave soldiers who served in the war.

“Their legacy is the freedom we continue to enjoy today and we are committed to preserving and communicating the contributions and achievements of these brave men and women to future generations,” he said.

“As a result of our shared values and shared experiences, Canada and France formed deep ties during the First World War.

“That relationship endures today as we continue to protect freedom and democracy on an international front. Canada’s history is best told through the stories of the men and women who lived it.

“By recognising and honouring the extraordinary service and sacrifice witnessed a century ago, we will keep the memory of Canada’s First World War experience alive for generations to come.”

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A charity is aiming to raise £10,000 in 10 days in memory of horses who died in the First World War.

Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys has launched an online appeal to raise the money.

It is being raised in honour of the 10,000 war horses who died in 10 days during a major German military offensive in spring 1918.

“100 years ago Operation Michael, part of the German spring offensive, had ground to a halt,” said a Brooke spokesman.

“Germany was forced to send thousands of brave horses and mules loaded with supplies into enemy territory and ultimately to their deaths.

“They were rushed to the front, through shell fire and mud, with supplies to keep the operation going.

“As supplies ran out many of these loyal animals were sacrificed for their meat, further slowing the advance and giving the Allies the upper hand.”

He added that the charity wants to honour the 10,000 equines who “nobly gave their lives” by improving the lives of today’s vulnerable working horses, donkeys and mules.

“Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign marks 100 years since the end of the First World War and highlights the struggle of working horses, donkeys and mules of the past and present,” he added.

“The money raised from this April appeal will help build better lives for future generations of animals and their owners.”

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The charity has so far raised £1,097 since the campaign was launched on 1 April.

“Eight million horses, donkeys and mules died in the First World War, not only from fierce shellfire and gas attacks but also from the extreme conditions they had to endure,” added the spokesman.

“Brooke is calling for everyone who ever loved a horse, donkey or mule, whether as a child or as a rider now, to help prevent suffering of animals working today.”

Click here to donate

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Top British riders are honouring war horses thanks to Brooke’s latest scheme.

Eventer Harry Meade and dressage rider Alice Oppenheimer are supporting the charity’s “Every Horse Remembered” initiative and have been named as Brooke’s ambassadors for the scheme.

British showjumper Laura Renwick is also backing the cause.

To mark the anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, Brooke has released a pin badge to honour the lives of millions of horses who died in the First World War.

A commemorative badge depicts the Every Horse Remembered logo and is available to buy from thebrookeshop.org. Each badge costs £3 plus postage and package.

“The badge provides the perfect way for supporters to show they’re honouring the lives of war horses, and help working horses, donkeys and mules of today,” said a Brooke spokesman.

Harry was keen to get behind the campaign.

“It is so important to honour the bravery of the millions of horses who served alongside our soldiers in the First World War,” he said.

“I’m supporting Brooke’s campaign to help them reach their £1m target in tribute to our war horses and to raise awareness of today’s working animals around the world.

“Learning about Brooke’s work has made me realise how lucky our own horses are to have all their basic needs looked after. But there are still millions of animals in desperate need of our help, so why not start fundraising today to help Brooke continue their amazing work?”

Alice has seen Brooke’s work first-hand, when she travelled to India with the charity.

“Every Horse Remembered is such an important campaign to remember the heroic horses of the First World War,” she said. “But working animals are not just a thing of the past. Every day horses, donkeys and mules still work tirelessly in terrible conditions.

“Having seen Brooke’s work in India I know how important it is to support them and help them continue their vital work protecting and improving the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable working horses and donkeys, both now and in the future.”

Laura added: “I’m delighted to start my official support for Brooke as an Every Horse Remembered ambassador.

“I’m looking forward to representing the campaign for Brooke in the British showjumping scene.”

Laura, Harry and Alice join author Hannah Russell and Little Alf the miniature Shetland, as well as the United States’ Instagram star “Muledragger” as ambassadors.

The group will be promoting the campaign through social media, attending events and supporting fundraising initiatives through 2018.

“Little Alf and I are so proud to be supporting Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign,” said Hannah.

“The millions of animals who fought in the First World War endured the most horrendous conditions and it’s devastating that there are still equines working in [awful] environments around the world.

“If you’ve ever loved a horse, donkey, mule or even a cheeky miniature Shetland please help Brooke’s Every Horse Remembered campaign to help prevent the suffering of working animals today.”

The battle of Verdun was longest battle fought on the Western Front and was so bloody it was known as the ‘Meat Grinder’ in the trenches.

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Thousands of horses died in the battle, and on just one day 7,000 were killed by a shelling.

Eight million horses died in the First World War, 75 percent of them from the extreme conditions they worked in.

Brooke’s founder Dorothy Brooke sought out many of the leftover horses years later in Cairo, Egypt. She set up the Old War Horse Memorial, a legacy that evolved into Brooke.

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Michael Morpurgo has paid tribute to the horse behind his knighthood.

Mr Morpurgo received the title in the 2018 New Year Honours list — and has thanked Joey, the star of his celebrated book War Horse, for the accolade.

Since its publication in 1982, War Horse has been adapted into a much-loved stage show and film.

“There was never a knight that has owed so much to his horse as this one,” said Mr Morpurgo.

The author was awarded the knighthood for his services to literature and charity, and also thanked his mother “who first gave me a love of stories by reading to me in bed ad night”, his wife Clare and Ted Hughes.

He said the honour gives him a platform to advance one of his main passions: “The opportunity to talk about children’s literature and how really important that is to our young people growing up today.”

He is a children’s laureate, an honour given in recognition of his lifetime’s contribution to children’s literature, president of the Book Trust and co-founder of the charity Farms for City Children with his wife.

His other titles include The Butterfly Lion, Out Of The Ashes and An Eagle In The Snow.

“They [children] learn so much — not just spelling and punctuation, all that’s very important — but what you learn from a book is understanding and empathy,” added Mr Morpurgo.

“You learn to understand about other people, people of different colour, of different religion, of a different age – and reading can do that.

“So it’s wonderful to be in a position to maybe do that more powerfully.”

Jilly Cooper, author of the best-selling Rutshire chronicles — which include Riders, Rivals and Polo — has been appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services to literature and charity.

When asked in a BBC interview what three things she would like to be able to “command”, Jilly replied: “to stop people being cruel”.

“To stop people being cruel to animals — desperately about animals — and also to children and to people,” said Mrs Cooper.

She said if she had the power, she would raise fines for those guilty of animal cruelty, adding that she would also like to see a successful Brexit.

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Other stars from the equestrian world included in the 2018 list include four-time champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson, who was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.

Mr Henderson, who trains racehorses for The Queen, said he is “extremely proud, honoured, surprised and privileged” to be recognised.

“It’s a complete honour to train for Her Majesty and a very special bonus,” he added.

Master farrier Doug Bradbury, FWCF of Clay Cross, Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, was appointed MBE for his services to the farrier profession and the community in the East Midlands.

Mr Bradbury is the head of three generations of Derbyshire farriers, including his son, Neal, and grandson, Thomas.

He transformed the old forge offices in Clay Cross, Derbys, into the UK Horseshoeing Museum and lectures across the country.

Mr Bradbury received the Fellowship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers in 1986 and is one of only 74 farriers in the UK to earn the title of “master farrier” from the Worshipful Company.

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War Horse author Michael Morpurgo and queen of the “bonkbuster” Jilly Cooper are among the stars of the equestrian world to receive accolades in the New Year Honours list.

Michael receives a knighthood for services to literature and charity, while Jilly is appointed CBE for the same reasons.

War Horse has sold more than a million copies since it was first published in 1982 and has been adapted into a hugely popular stage show and an Oscar-nominated film.

Michael is also president of the Book Trust and co-founded the charity Farms for City Children with his wife, Clare, which gives children from urban areas a chance to live and work on a real farm for a week.

Jilly, whose famous works include Riders, Polo and The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, is currently working on her latest novel — which is set in the football world.

Four-time champion jumps trainer Nicky Henderson is made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order and former jockey Paul Taiano is appointed OBE for services to drama training and horse racing welfare.

Master farrier Doug Bradbury, FWCF of Clay Cross, Chesterfield, in Derbyshire, has received an MBE for his services to the farrier profession and the community in the East Midlands.

Four Riding for the Disabled Association volunteers receive awards in the list — Anne Blair is appointed OBE for services to children and people with disabilities; Susan Law is appointed OBE for services to Riding for the Disabled; Jean Clarkson is receives a BEM for services to Riding for the Disabled in Dumfries and Galloway and Sister Mary-Joy Langdon receives a BEM for services to disabled and disadvantaged children.

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In total 1,123 people have received awards and 70% of these are people who have undertaken “outstanding work” in their communities, either in a voluntary or paid capacity. Women make up 49% of the total list.

“The honours system continues to recognise those doing extraordinary things to support their community and reinforce civic life across the UK,” read a statement from the Cabinet Office.

“It is built on/relies on nominations put forward by members of the public and we urge everybody to nominate the person in their lives that they think deserves an honour.

“We continue to see inspirational action by people up and down the country.”

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The grave of an equine hero who fought in — and survived — some of the major battles of the First World War has been given official protection.

The memorial stone to “Blackie the war horse” has been granted heritage protection under Historic England.

It is the first war horse grave to be granted the protection and can be found at the RSPCA Liverpool Animal Centre in Halewood.

The grave has been given a grade II listing after a member of the public contacted Historic England with concerns that it was threatened by proposed building work.

“We advised them to apply for listing and are very happy it all worked out,” said a spokesman for Historic England.

Blackie served at the battles of Arras, Somme, Ypres and Cambrai, before returning to Britain, where he lived into his late 30s.

He served with the 275th Brigade Royal Field Artillery ‘A’ Battery 55th West Lancashire Division alongside his master, the wartime poet Leonard Comer Wall.

Details of Blackie’s early life are not known, but it is believed he was born in 1905.

“In Lieutenant Comer Wall’s will he requested that if he did not survive the war that his faithful horse Blackie be buried with his medals or decorations,” added a Historic England spokesman.

The lieutenant was killed in action at Ypres whilst riding Blackie on 9 June 1917, aged 20, and the horse’s groom, Francis Frank Wilkinson, was killed the previous day at the age of 23.

Blackie sustained severe shrapnel injuries in the attack that killed his rider, but continued his service on the Western Front until the end of the war.

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“After the war Lieutenant Comer Wall’s mother Kate bought Blackie from the Army and lent him to the Territorial Riding School in Liverpool,” said the Historic England spokesman.

“In 1930 he was ‘pensioned off’ and retired to live at the Horses’ Rest home in Halewood where he remained until his death at the age of 37 in December 1942.

“It is understood that Blackie used to lead Liverpool’s May Day horse parade along with another ex war-horse known as Billy, and was adorned with his master’s medals.

“Blackie’s death received press coverage across Britain, from the local Liverpool Daily Post to the Gloucester Citizen, Portsmouth Evening News, and Dundee Evening Telegraph.”

Lieutenant Comer Wall’s wishes were honoured, and Blackie was buried with his medals in the north west corner of the western field next to Higher Road.

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A life-size replica of War Horse Joey made from cake proved an emotional tribute the week before Remembrance Day.

The cake, created by south Wales-based Emma Jayne of Emma Jayne Cake Design in tribute to the animals killed in wars, was exhibited at the Cake International sugarcraft, cake decorating and baking show in Birmingham (3-5 November).

It took two weeks to make from scratch and incorporates 50kg rice crispies, 50kg marshmallow, 70kg modelling paste and 20kg sugar paste.

“My husband works for the military and he came up with the idea,” Emma told H&H.

“I wanted to create something that had meaning behind it and I’m an animal lover too.

“When I first chose the subject I couldn’t bear to look at the picture, but it was such an important message I had to put across.”

A real model

Emma’s research involved visiting a friend’s Irish draught Rock.

“I took measurements to gauge the size as he was very similar to the War Horse [Joey] and he was very well behaved,” she said.

The War Horse cake attracted a great deal of attention at the show.

“A lot of people came to the stand and it really was quite emotional,” said Emma.

“I listened to stories from people whose family had been involved in wars.”

Poppies were sold next to Emma’s stand and members of the public were encouraged to place them in the sandbags next to the cake in tribute to horses involved and lost in conflict.

The icing on the cake

War Horse writer Michael Morpurgo even shared his support for Emma’s creation.

“Quite extraordinary,” he said. “What an achievement. It is a great sculpture, wonderfully realised. Bravo you!”

Emma also won the cake artist of the year award from Cake Masters Magazine during the show.

“I didn’t think in my wildest dreams I would win,” she said.

Continued below…

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The War Horse cake was safely transported to Emma’s home, but she hopes it can find a new base where it can be enjoyed by the public.

“I’ve been in contact with the production team of War Horse to see if they would be interested in having it in a theatre foyer,” Emma added.

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War Horse Joey has sold for £35,000 at a charity auction.

The life-size horse puppet, used in the award-winning National Theatre production, was sold on 13 September and reached the highest price of all the lots.

The sale by Bonhams in New Bond Street, London, made £68,000 for the Handspring Trust, a charity that “inspires creativity, commitment and innovation towards new puppet theatre arts”.

Fellow War Horse puppet Topthorn sold for £8,500 and Joey the foal sold for £8,000.

The smaller puppets also generated thousands of pounds for the charity.

The goose went for £5,000, the two crows £2,000, horses Coco and Heine £4,000 and the four mustering horses £5,5000.

The puppets were made by the Handspring Puppet Company in South Africa.

Farms for City Children

The War Horse show is based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo.

The story, first published in 1982, is about a young boy called Albert and his horse Joey, who is caught up in the first global conflict.

The Joey foal puppet was sold to Graham and Rose Ward, the owners of War Horse Valley Country Park in Iddesleigh, which is one of the settings for the story.

As well as being a public attraction and working farm, the farm is visited by about 1,000 children a year through Mr Morpurgo’s charity, Farms for City Children, which gives young people from urban areas an experience of rural life.

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The War Horse show ran for eight years in London and toured to 11 countries.

Although the original puppets have retired, War Horse is set to return.

The National Theatre has announced that the play will visit seven UK venues from September next year in a run that will continue into 2018.

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The animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross has been awarded to a “life-saving” horse who served in the Korean War.

Sergeant Reckless was posthumously recognised for her bravery and devotion with the PDSA Dickin Medal on the 63rd anniversary of the end of the war.

A special ceremony was held yesterday (27 July) at the Korean War Memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens, London.

PDSA director general Jan McLoughlin was joined by a current serving King’s Troop horse, Haldalgo (pictured, top and below), who wore Reckless’ medal.

“Reckless’ story is one of conspicuous gallantry and the bravery of this remarkable horse embodies just why we honour animals in this way,” said Mrs McLoughlin.

Sergeant Reckless carried ammunition and wounded soldiers with the US Marines during the war, which lasted from 1950-1953.

The chestnut mare is the 68th animal to receive the award, which is given to those who display outstanding acts of bravery during military conflict.

She was nominated by author Robin Hutton, who spent six years researching her life and writing her biography, and was supported by the US Marine Corps.

Bred as a racehorse, Reckless was bought for $250 (£190) and trained as an ammunitions carrier for the 5th Marines’ anti-tank division.

Her name was given to her by soldiers as the gun for which she carried ammunition was nicknamed the “reckless” rifle.

The mare endured difficult conditions, including freezing winters and frequent gruelling missions hauling ammunitions across mountain terrain.

On one day during the Battle of Outpost Vegas in March 1953, she made 51 trips from the ammunition supply point to the firing sites.

She carried 386 rounds of ammunition — almost five tonnes — walked more than 35 miles over rice paddy fields and mountains under heavy enemy fire.

Reckless would also carry wounded soldiers back down the mountain to safety.

“Her heroics embody the word Marine and those who served alongside Reckless truly loved her,” said Mr Hutton.

“She was loved by the Marines; they took care of her better than they took care of themselves — throwing their flak jackets over her to protect her when incoming fire was heavy, risking their own safety.”

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In November 1954, hundreds gathered on San Francisco’s dock to give her a hero’s welcome on her return to the US.

She retired from the Marines in 1960 and died aged 20 in 1960. She was buried with full military honours at her home in California.

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Fans of War Horse will have a chance to get their hands on puppets used in the hit play later this year.

A full set of original puppets used in the stage show will be auctioned at Bonhams in London in aid of charity.

Horses Joey and Topthorn, a pair of crows and the goose will be going under the hammer at the evening auction on 13 September.

A spokesman for the auction house said this is the “only time” a full set of these famous puppets will be made available at auction.

“This is a one-off opportunity to acquire a piece of theatrical legend and benefit a great cause,” said Bonhams’ director of African Art, Giles Peppiatt.

“War Horse captured hearts round the world including famously that of HM The Queen.”

Joey and Topthorn will make an appearance on the night and the full set will be signed and numbered 1/5 by master puppeteer Adrian Kohler.

In all, eight sets of puppets were made, of which three are being preserved for future producions.

Money raised at the sale will go to the Handspring Trust, a not-for-profit organisation with the aim of inspiring creativity, commitment and innovation towards new puppet theatre arts.

The charity was founded by Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones, of the Handspring Puppet Company — creators of the War Horse puppets.

Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is the most successful play ever put on by London’s Royal National Theatre.

During its eight-year run, it was watched by more than 7 million people worldwide and toured across 11 countries.

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Each set of puppets took eight months to create and is made of cane, leather and tyvec, (for the manes and tails) — a material used in book-binding.

The torsos are reinforced with aluminium and are strong enough to carry a rider.

The show closed on London’s West End in March, but if you have not yet managed to catch it, a UK tour of the production begins in September 2017.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The acclaimed National Theatre production of War Horse finishes its run on Saturday (12 March 2016). If you've missed your chance to see it — don't panic. Here's why the film version won't disappoint, says Jen Scouler

Fans of horse films were let in for a treat in 2011, when famed film director Steven Spielberg set to adapt Michael Morpurgo’s novel War Horse. Already beloved both as a book and a stage play, the decision to take the story to the big screen led to some very high expectations worldwide. With this film, Spielberg wonderfully acknowledges the silent soldiers of the First World War and tells the story from an equine perspective with emotion and subtlety.

The story

War Horse follows the story of a horse called Joey, who is bought as a colt by struggling farmer Ted Narracott (Peter Mullan) in a moment of impulse. Just as Joey forms a bond with Ted’s son Albert (Jeremy Irvine), World War I begins and the two are separated, each to find themselves deep in the overseas conflict. As we watch Joey’s miraculous journey through France, the film gradually shows just how the war affected soldiers on both sides of the battle.

The horse

As the lead character of the film, the horse that played Joey had to be pretty special. In fact, it took no less than 14 horses to play him, equipped with their own specialist makeup team to ensure all had the same markings and on-screen appearance.

However, the primary equine actor of the bunch was already a Hollywood veteran. Finder’s Key, a horse with his own Facebook page, is a 16 year old 15.2hh thoroughbred, who by the time of War Horse’s filming had already played the star role in the racing film Seabiscuit. His acting abilities were so strong that he even managed some cross-gender acting by playing Joey’s dam in some of the earlier scenes.

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The stunts

Steven Spielberg doesn’t do things by halves and knows how to conduct a battle scene, with a proven track record in portraying war in films like Saving Private Ryan. Adding horses to the mix for this one wasn’t easy but the director has spoken of his pride in managing to construct a film that used so few digital effects.

This may be hard to believe of course when War Horse features a horse leaping over a tank in the trenches. Yet inventive stunt work led to the reality portrayed on screen. In one particularly heart wrenching scene, Joey finds himself trapped in barbed wire, a stunt that was achieved mostly by the simple use of rubber prop wires.

Up to 280 horses were used in a single scene, and the dramatic cavalry charge by the British soldiers involved 130 extras on horses, something that can’t have been easy to co-ordinate.

Why we love it

The story of Joey is miraculous fiction. We’d all love for there to have been hundreds of wonderful stories such as his, but the reality was that many horses didn’t make it through the war. In fact, a heartbreaking total of eight million horses were killed during World War I, a number that is almost unimaginable now.

It was at a time when new technology was overtaking the old traditional ways of battle. The ill-fated cavalry charge of the movie captures this perfectly, reminding us of how the First World War confronted many soldiers with technology far more destructive and dangerous than they were prepared for.

Spielberg’s War Horse is a sensitive adaptation that understands this context, featuring some fantastic performances and stunning visual techniques that convey the themes of the film. Actor Jeremy Irvine, a complete newcomer at the time, is excellent as Joey’s owner Albert. An early scene where he pleads and coaxes Joey to use all his strength in ploughing a rocky field is made so believable by the pain and determination wrought on Irvine’s face.

On another note, the score by acclaimed composer John Williams is one of his best works yet. I’ll admit that even just a clip of the music from the trailer led to some watery eyes from this particular writer, it’s just that good (or I’m a massive softie, one of the two).

However, ultimately the star of the film is — and was always going to be — the horse. For that reason, War Horse is a perfect movie for equestrians, as well as being a worthy tribute to the human and equine casualties of the war, who should always be remembered.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The final London production of Michael Morpurgo’s award winning play War Horse this weekend (12 March) is supporting a charity trying to preserve the real war horse stables.

The programmes at the final production will have leaflets inserted showing the work of the Shorncliffe Trust.

The Kent-based charity is fighting to raise funds to preserve the heritage on the site of the Shorncliffe War Horse Stables and remount school run by the Canadian Veterinary Corps at Shorncliffe Camp in WW1.

“Shorncliffe contributed hugely to the war effort, providing care, veterinary attention and alleviating the suffering,” said Mr Morpurgo. “It is a place that played a significant part in the story of the First World War, and that is a story that must be told in all its aspects and passed onto the next generation.”

The stables on the former MOD-owned are soon to be demolished by the new owners Taylor Wimpey.

The Shorncliffe Trust, set up by Chris Shaw is fighting to raise £2m to lease the land from the new owners and turn the Victorian buildings into an educational centre.

“We thank Michael Morpurgo and the National Theatre for supporting our charity and giving us a chance to tell the story of these magnificent animals, who bravely worked and died alongside their soldiers from all countries during WW1,” said Mr Shaw.

“We hope that the work and educational programmes we are planning at Shorncliffe are a fitting legacy to the thousands of men and horses that came through the gates of the camp in WW1,” he added.

Shorncliffe camp had more than 3m men pass through its gates.

The site is considered to be the birthplace of the British Light Infantry and the modern British soldier.

The author Bernard Cornwall, one of the charity’s patrons has agreed to open a Sharpe Museum on the site if the land can be saved.

Related articles:

• Are you a War Horse fan? 7 things you might not know about the lead actors
• Stud owner comes to the rescue of War Horse Joey
• 7 reasons you need to see War Horse before it’s too late

The camp was home to the 95th Rifles made famous in Cornwall’s Sharpe series of books.

A Taylor Wimpey spokesperson told H&H: “As part of our planning permission for the former MOD Shorncliffe Garrison site in Folkestone, we are required to produce a management plan for the land previously known as the ‘back door training area’, to demonstrate how we will balance the ecological, recreational and historical interests of the area.

“We will continue to work with existing residents and local interest groups to ensure that all interested parties can have their say on how the land is managed, but our main priority is to strike the correct balance between the ecological, recreational and historical elements of the site.”

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Take our tongue-in-cheek quiz to find out which fictional horse you'd be best suited to... or perhaps is most like your own equine partner

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Children’s ponies and racehorses are normally in the back of stud owner Lucy Procter’s lorry — not a life-size War Horse puppet.

But last weekend (7 November) Lucy came to Joey’s rescue after getting a surprise call from husband Doug.

The famous puppet’s prop lorry had broken down on the A303 at Mere on route to Sherborne Abbey.

Joey was due to make a guest appearance in the Abbey on Saturday night with War Horse author Michael Morpurgo as part of the literary festival.

But the prop lorry was unrepairable and the chances for Joey making it in time were looking slim.

“Our accountant lived next door to the Abbey and they knocked on her door and she suggested they ring Doug Procter,” explained Lucy to H&H. “He phoned me to see if I was free and I set off with William, my 10-year-old son, who had just finished studying War Horse at school.”

She delivered Joey at Sherborne Abbey in the family’s 3.5-ton box and stayed for that evening’s performance.

“It was very moving and afterwards we loaded Joey back onto the lorry and he stayed the night at the stud with our 20 mares to keep him company,” said Lucy.

Luckily her daughter’s eventing season had finished so on Sunday Lucy was then free to take Joey to Iddesleigh in Devon for a photo shoot on Remembrance Sunday.

Michael Morpurgo, who lives in Iddesleigh, was inspired to write War Horse after listening to the stories told by the war veterans in the village pub.

After the pictures were taken Lucy dropped Joey back in London at the New London Theatre where William was treated to a backstage tour.

The Proctors and their three children have been invited to a performance of War Horse in the Christmas holidays as a thank you for all their efforts to help Joey.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A War Horse super-fan tells us why going to see the National Theatre's epic production should be at the top of your to-do list, before it ends in March 2016

1. It’s almost your last chance

The National Theatre’s epic production of War Horse (playing at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane) has announced that the final West End performance will be 12 March 2016. If you haven’t seen it yet, YOU MUST. If you’ve already seen it, GO AGAIN.

2. All those awards must mean something

The show has a never-ending list of awards including the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards (Audience Award for Most Popular Show), 2012 Whatsonstage Best West End Show award… Best director, best design and best lighting are also on the list.

3. It’s a masterpiece

Based on the celebrated novel by the Children’s Laureate (2003-05) Michael Morpurgo, the stage production is simply breath-taking. You’ll leave feeling inspired and as though you have just seen a piece of magic. A combination of the captivating plot, mesmerising actors and puppetry so true to life, you honestly forget they are puppets. It is a show of such high standard, you won’t want to blink.

Continued below…

Are you a War Horse fan? 7 things you might not know about the lead actor

Horse & Hound caught up with James Backway, who plays the lead role of Albert Narracott in the theatre production

War Horse: 8 things you might not know about the man behind Joey’s heart

Horse & Hound caught up with Chris Milford, who is the man responsible for playing Joey's heart in the theatre

4. The perfect gift for Christmas

Gifts of ‘experiences’ rather than ‘materialistic objects’ are becoming more popular than ever. And for good reason. In 10 years time you’re more likely to look back and think fondly of a certain theatre trip with a certain someone, rather than thinking: “Ah, that expensive designer jumper. That was a good time.” What’s more, no gift wrapping required.

5. Great for both horsey and non-horsey people

Finally! An amazing event you can attend with your nearest and dearest, including the ones that think your horse’s frog is his amphibian friend. Everybody can enjoy the true talent that War Horse offers.

6. You can get the inside scoop

There is also a series of free talks and Q&As to celebrate War Horse’s final six months at the New London Theatre – what a fantastic idea.

Meet the Puppeteers: Tuesday 17 November at 9.30pm

Michael Morpurgo on War Horse: Thursday 10 December at 10pm

7. You’ll regret it if you don’t

You’ll also regret not bringing the Kleenex. Once again, it ENDS in March. Book your tickets, see the show, join the hype. Make War Horse your favourite London theatre production. You won’t regret it.

For more information visit: www.warhorseonstage.com

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A life-size memorial of a war horse was unveiled in Hampshire last week (Friday 3 July).

The sculpture was officially unveiled by Princess Anne in Romsey’s War Memorial Park.

In World War One the Remount Camp just outside of the town trained 120,000 horses and mules for life on the front, where many died.

After the war the camp was knocked down but the remaining hardcore was used to raise the ground level of the War Memorial Park in Romsey.

Local equestrian sculptor Amy Goodman was commissioned by a group of Hampshire residents to create a fitting tribute to commemorate the horses, as well as the soldiers who served at the site.

After four years of work the sculpture was finally unveiled last week.

“It was a very special day,” Amy told H&H. “A lot of people have worked very hard to make this happen.”

In 2011 Amy started research on the project, using sketches by Lionel Edwards for inspiration, as well as Munnings’ renditions of Major General Jack Seely and his famous horse, Warrior.

“All my career I’ve wanted to sculpt a life-size horse as a public memorial. It is such an honour to be involved in such a project as this.”

The 40-year-old sculptor wanted to show the “powerful bond” between horse and rider, despite the hardships of war.

“It is attracting many visitors,” added Amy. “They have been photographing the statue, stroking it and leaving flowers on the plinth. Romsey has taken the statue to its heart.”

The statue stands on a plinth that rests on a concrete base. Four horseshoes from the battlefields of Flanders are embedded in the concrete, together with some nail fragments, a Remount Service cap badge and two of the terracotta war horses made at King John’s House.

The entrance to the park has been completely re-designed to make a suitable setting for the new statue.

The project is costing £80,000 with public donations and auctions to fundraise it.

Amy Goodman’s Romsey War Horse maquette won the British Sporting Art Trust best sculpture award at the annual Society of Equestrian Artists “Horse in Art” exhibition in 2013.

For more information visit: www.romseywarhorse.co.uk

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The West End theatre smash hit, which has been seen by over six million people worldwide, War Horse has just welcomed a brand new cast to its stage.

The critically acclaimed War Horse production, based on the novel written by Michael Morpurgo, tells the moving tale of a horse sold by “Albert” to the cavaly upon the outbreak of World War I, and is subsequently shipped to France. “Joey” is soon caught up in enemy lines until he eventually finds himself in no man’s land. Albert, still not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

Horse & Hound caught up with James Backway, who plays the lead role of Albert Narracott in the show, to find out more about the production and how he is helping to bring the story of War Horse to life.

1. A new experience

Although James is dealing with a “horse” on a daily basis, he admits that prior to his call up to War Horse he had had very limited previous experience with the animals. “My granny used to have horses in a field next to her house, but I have never ridden before,” he says. “To learn about equine behaviour I spent hours watching videos on YouTube, to help make my relationship with Joey on stage completely authentic.”

2. Holding back the tears

James went to see the stage production of War Horse three times before he took to the stage himself. “I cried like a baby when I saw the production the first couple of times,” he confesses. “I was trying to hold back the tears so much that it hurt, but they always came through in the end! The third time was just after I had been cast as Albert, so I was so busy taking notes that I didn’t have time to cry.”

3. Believing in puppets

How easy to act alongside are the Handspring puppets used to bring the animals of War Horse alive? “The puppets are so well crafted and acted by the puppeteers that it really is very easy to act with them. You have to make sure that you give the puppets the respect they deserve, as you would a real-life animal, and if I do something wrong the puppeteers will let me know via either a kick, rear, breath or noise! We have fun with it and bounce off each other really well,” explains James.

4. Life among the cast

With the job of acting in such an emotionally charged show on an almost daily basis, James has an innate ability to switch off after each performance. “There is a really chilled atmosphere among the cast, and we are all able to remain focused during the show while still being able to enjoy ourselves. Yes I get nervous, but it is more of a productive energy rather than anything else — this is my dream job afterall!”

Continued below…

War Horse: 8 things you might not know about the man behind Joey’s heart

Horse & Hound caught up with Chris Milford, who is the man responsible for playing Joey's heart in the theatre

5. Envying his character

James surprisingly admits that he envys parts of Albert’s character. “I was born in Croydon,” he explains. “I had limited access to the countryside and there wasn’t a great deal of oportunity for free-roaming. Albert lives in rural Devon, and prior to the war lived a simple life, based on outdoor life. It’s that part of Albert that I envy, and it makes playing him all the more enjoyable.”

6. Adding some twists

There have been quite a few Alberts in the history of the War Horse show in Britain. Is James able to put his own twist on his character? “Yes, there is no brief with Albert — the directors trust me to have fun with the character while remaining true to his roots,” says James. “The first ever Albert in the show was played as a very vulnerable type, whereas the second Albert was still vulnerable but there were moments where he was a bit of a lad too. I am now able to act the character out within this range, which makes it great fun. It also means that if you saw the show a while back, it is very different now, so it is well worth paying it another visit!”

7. His favourite bit

“My favourite part of the show has to be when Joey the foal first appears on stage. I like the feeling that the audience give off as they get their heads around this animal, which is so life like, but is a puppet. There is this intense energy that can’t be matched.”

War Horse is at the New London Theatre. For further information and tickets please visit: www.warhorseonstage.com

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It is a West End theatre smash hit. It has been seen by over six million people and now in its eighth year, it has just welcomed a brand new cast to its stage.

The critically acclaimed War Horse, written by Michael Morpurgo, tells the moving tale of a horse sold by “Albert” to the cavaly upon the outbreak of World War I, and is subsequently shipped to France. “Joey” is soon caught up in enemy lines until he eventually finds himself in no man’s land. Albert, still not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find him and bring him home.

Horse & Hound caught up with Chris Milford, who is the man responsible for playing Joey’s heart in the show, to find out more about the production and how the cast continue to bring the story to life day in, day out.

1. Limited experience

Chris admits he has only ridden a couple of times in his life. “I once rode a horse in New Zealand while travelling,” he says. “But I’m now completely obsessed with horses. I recently had a day off and I went to meet some friends in Southampton. While there I insisted we went to see the New Forest ponies in their natural environment. My friends thought I had lost the plot!” confesses Chris.

2. Dream part

Chris first went to see War Horse three years ago where he says he was “completely blown away” by it. “I rang my agent immediately after the show and told him I absolutely had to get a part in the show. Three years later here I am after a successful audition at the end of 2014 – it really is a dream come true.”

3. Spending hours on YouTube

A major part of Chris’ rehearsal time was learning about equine behaviour. “Nobody stood there and told us how horses behave; we had to go out and learn it for ourselves,” explains Chris. “We spent a lot of time at the London Equestrian Centre, just walking around the stables and watching the horses out in the fields, observing their behaviour. We looked at how the horses moved around their stables, like when they kick their doors for attention and how they move their tail, eyes and ears in different environments. We had to know their general likes, dislikes and reactions so that it became second nature for us on stage.

“When I wasn’t watching horses in the flesh, I spent hours watching videos of them on YouTube. At the end of the whole process we had to give a sort of show and tell presentation to the rest of the cast to demonstrate what we had learnt!

“The truth is, you never stop learning about equine behaviour – I‘m constantly on the lookout for little bits of movement I can incorporate into Joey in the show.”

4. Practice, practice, practice

It’s not just acting Chris has to worry about during the show. The Joey Handspring puppet weighs a whopping 10½ stone (and even more when Joey is ridden!) which is shared between three people who bring Joey to life. “We worked hard to get into good physical shape for the show, which included a lot of circuit training,” says Chris.

5. Getting lost

In order to play Joey to the highest standard possible, Chris says he has to get “lost” in the character of Joey. “It’s not like a ‘normal’ stage show where you know your lines inside out and you can auto-pilot through the show if needs be. The key to making Joey come to life is reacting to what is going on around him – you really have to pay attention to every little movement to make it believable.”

6. Communication on stage

After three months of rehearsals the new cast took to the stage, but how do the three actors responsible for Joey communicate with eachother while performing? “Initially we talked quietly to eachother,” explains Chris. “But as we’ve got to know eachother’s rhythms we didn’t need to talk anymore and we just knew instinctively where we were going to move to, what noises we would make and so on. Having said that, we do use different breaths to signal to eachother sometimes.”

7. The final push

So what is the trickiest part of the show for Chris to manoeuvre Joey through? “The scene is called ‘Joey’s night’. It’s right at the end of the show and it really requires the three of us to really push ourselves. I won’t spoil the plot for you, but the scene sees Joey gallop around the stage before becoming tangled in wire. It’s physically and emotionally demanding, but thankfully this is exactly what we want the audience to feel.”

8. The best bit

“My favourite part of the show is either the scene I have mentioned, Joey’s night, or Joey’s initial entrance as an adult to the show. He jumps into the stage which gets a great reaction from the audience and sets the show up really well,” says Chris.

War Horse is at the New London Theatre. For further information and tickets please visit: www.warhorseonstage.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Britain’s first life-size memorial of a war horse is being unveiled in a park in Romsey, Hampshire this summer.

In World War One the Remount Camp just outside of the town trained 120,000 horses and mules for life on the front, where many died.

After the war the camp was completely demolished, but the remaining hardcore was used to raise the ground level of the War Memorial Park in Romsey.

A group of local people have commissioned equestrian sculptor Amy Goodman to create a statue for the park to commemorate the horses and men who served in the camp.

The commission is a life-long ambition for the 40 year-old Hampshire-based sculptor.

“All my career I’ve wanted to sculpt a life-size horse as a public memorial. It is such an honour to be involved in such a project as this,” she told H&H.

The trooper has a broken arm in the sculpture, to portray the injuries sustained in war, and is depicted holding his other arm out for his horse to nuzzle.

“I wish to convey the powerful bond between horse and soldier, despite their hardship through war,” added Amy.

She started her research in 2011 gaining inspiration from Lionel Edwards’ sketches and Munnings’ renditions of Major General Jack Seely and his famous horse, Warrior.

The project is costing £80,000 with public donations, auctions and local fundraising having raised three quarters of the funds so far.

A local brewer has created “the Romsey War Horse” ale to help with fundraising, and bronze limited-edition maquettes of the memorial project are being sold.

Amy Goodman’s Romsey War Horse maquette won the British Sporting Art Trust best sculpture award at the annual Society of Equestrian Artists “Horse in Art” exhibition in 2013.

The sculpture is being cast in bronze resin and will be unveiled on 3 July.

For more information visit: www.romseywarhorse.co.uk

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We asked H&H readers to send in photographs of their four-legged friends wearing poppies to mark Armistice Day (11 November) and we were overwhelmed with the response. We received countless fantastic pictures of horses — and a few dogs — wearing the iconic remembrance symbol.

There’s even a handful celebrity horses to look out for in the gallery, including top dressage horse Nip Tuck, champion cob and H&H cover star Ballyell Turbo, and our very own equine blogger Hovis.

What better way to pay respect to all those who fell in the war — both two-legged and four. Thank you very much to everyone who sent in pictures of riders and horses wearing their poppies with pride.

You may also enjoy reading these news stories honouring war horses:

Service pays tribute to equines in WW1

More than 300 people and 60 horses paid tribute to the role equines played in World War One at a special service last week (Sunday 2 November).

Ranging from Shetlands to hunters the horses — two driven the rest ridden — lined up at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern for the 10.30am service.

Sculpture tribute to war horses

A former jump jockey is paying his own tribute to the horses of World War I in the centenary year — with a new sculpture exhibition.

Philip Blacker — who rode 340 winners and was placed in the Grand National three times — retired in 1982 and turned his hand to art.

War horse recognised for his bravery during World War I

A horse that served in World War One has been awarded a medal for his bravery during battle.

Warrior, who was owned and ridden by H&H racing columnist Brough Scott’s grandfather General Jack Seely, was honoured with the PDSA Dickin Medal in September.

Novel war horse tribute revealed

A tribute to the war horses of World War One has been unveiled by horse lover Sue De’Ath at her Berkshire home.

Local tree surgeon Greg Bint has carved a horses’ head into the trunk of an oak tree.

The tree was hit by lightning in the February storms and part of it fell over on the road. Mrs de’Ath decided to turn it into art.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A former jump jockey is paying his own tribute to the horses of World War I in the centenary year — with a new sculpture exhibition.

Philip Blacker — who rode 340 winners and was placed in the Grand National three times — retired in 1982 and turned his hand to art.

The exhibition combines sculpture and painting based on the horses — one of which was Warrior, who was recently awarded the PDSA Dickin Medal for bravery in combat.

The horse was ridden in the war by General Jack Seeley, grandfather of H&H columnist and Philip’s friend Brough Scott.

In 2013 Brough commissioned Philip to produce a sculpture that would immortalise Warrior.

Philip said his inspiration for friezes comes from a variety of sources including painting, poems, letters and songs.

“These words allowed my imagination to perceive them through the medium of relief panels,” he said.

“They are just my interpretation. I have not focused on the tragedy of the war itself, that having been well chronicled, but more of life behind the lines. Where the front line has been depicted it is usually in a moment of reflection.

“My love of creating horses in bronze on a large scale has led me to want to put them in context somehow. This led on to my interest in friezes where this aspect became possible. The friezes and the subject of the WW1 just seemed to work together.”

Modelling and casting takes two to three weeks. After casting the works are patinated by applying chemicals to the hot bronze.

The exhibition opens at Thompson’s Gallery, London on 5 November, ahead of Remembrance Day.

For more information visit: www.philipblacker.com

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (30 October 2014)

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A horse that served in World War One has been awarded a medal for his bravery during battle.

Warrior, who was owned and ridden by H&H racing columnist Brough Scott’s grandfather General Jack Seely, was honoured with the PDSA Dickin Medal earlier this month (2 September).

Brough accepted the honorary medal on behalf of the war horse.

Warrior was known as the “horse the Germans could not kill”.

During World War One the horse survived falling shells at the Battle of the Somme, was buried under debris, was stuck in the mud at Passchendaele and was twice trapped under the burning beams of his stables.

Brough said his family were “truly humbled” that Warrior had been given the award.

“It is with great pride and gratitude that I accept this Honorary PDSA Dickin Medal on behalf of Warrior and all the remarkable animals in World War I,” he added.

“Warrior’s story — which I grew up hearing at my mothers’ knee — was lost in time to the wider world. But now he rides again 100 years later, thanks to PDSA.

“My family and I are more than honoured that Warrior has been given this award on behalf of all animals that also served. I only wish Jack Seely were here today to witness Warrior receiving the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.”

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg, director of the Oscar-nominated film War Horse said recognising Warrior was “a fitting and poignant tribute not only to this remarkable animal, but to all animals that served.”

The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted by the charity’s founder Maria Dickin in 1943.

Since then 65 Dickin medals have been awarded to 29 dogs, 32 WW1 messenger pigeons, three horses (not including Warrior) and one cat.

For more information visit www.pdsa.org.uk/DickinMedal

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A tribute to the war horses of World War One has been unveiled by horse lover Sue De’Ath at her Berkshire home.

Local tree surgeon Greg Bint has carved a horses’ head into the trunk of an oak tree.

The tree was hit by lightning in the February storms and part of it fell over on the road. Mrs de’Ath decided to turn it into art.

The head is inspired by Nic Fiddian-Green’s horse at water sculpture, which Mrs de’Ath has always admired.

Before wielding his chainsaw, Mr Bint studied the line drawings of Nic Fiddian-Green’s sculpture found in a book.

His version took two days to complete and is now next to the gates by the front drive. It was unveiled last week (Monday 4 August)

“We are so happy with the result and it coincides with the 100 year commemoration of the First World War so we have made it our tribute to war horses. The eyes are so sad but proud and stoic,” said Mrs De’Ath.

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A memorial dedicated to the one million horses lost in World War One is to be installed in Ascot.

Equine sculptor Susan Leyland (pictured top) has been commissioned to produce “a fitting acknowledgement to the unspoken, uncomplaining and inspirational nobility of the horse.”

The memorial is expected to cost about £250,000 with the funding provided by Ascot Lawyers Foundation (ALF) and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maindenhead.

Project founder Alan Carr said: “This iconic memorial will be a fitting and lasting celebration dedicated to the horse and their valiant service during The Great War.”

The larger-than-life bronze sculpture of a typical animal used to transport munitions and men is due to be unveiled next spring.

The horse will be raised on a stone plinth and face London Road and Ascot high street.

Neil Somerville, senior partner at Ascot Lawyers believes the sculpture will help raise money for important charitable causes.

The project has the backing of the Imperial War Museum, equine and military organisations.

Charities selected as beneficiaries include the Mane Chance Sanctuary, Blue Acre Animal Sanctuary, Riding for the Disabled Association, and the Household Cavalry Foundation.

Actress Jenny Seagrove who set up Mane Chance Sanctuary to rescue and rehome abused or abandoned horses said she was “thrilled, honoured and very grateful” to have been selected to be a beneficiary of the war horse memorial project.

Excavation works is expected to begin on the memorial in the autumn.

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They say time is the great healer and yet 100 years after the outbreak of World War I, the statistics of suffering still move us today as much as they did the generations directly involved.

To read, or write, about that terrible war — the nine million people who died; the appalling number of equine deaths, and the devastating mental and physical damage incurred — causes an almost physical sense of pain. But this is a tiny echo of what happened to those humans and animals involved.

For H&H readers, the plight of the horses and mules is probably as hard to think of as the human horror, and we shouldn’t be ashamed of this. Even then it was recognised.

At the time, Signaller Jim Crow of the 110th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, expressed it well: “We knew what we were there for; them poor devils didn’t, did they?”

Here are 6 ideas of ways to commemorate the experiences of WWI horses this summer:

1. Visit the ‘Warhorse to Horsepower’ exhibition at The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, which runs until the end of the year. The display examines the role of horses before, during and after World War I. The key emphasis is on the British Army’s transition from horsed Cavalry to armoured vehicles — and the reasons behind this major shift in warfare. Visit: www.tankmuseum.org

2. ‘From Cavalry Chargers to Beasts of Burden’ — a talk by Dr Karen Jones — will take place at the REME Museum of Technology, Aborfield, Berks, on 13 August. It will explore the myth and reality surrounding horses in war by taking a look at their changing use in the British army from the Crimean War until the last cavalry charge of the First World War on 11 November, 1918. Visit: www.rememuseum.org.uk

3. The REME Museum of Technology is also hosting a family friendly ‘World War I commemoration day’ on 4 August. Visitors will be able to view the exhibition ‘Horse Drawn War’, take a look at the World War I stables, meet two ex-military horses from The Horse Trust and take a look around a World War I horse ambulance. Visit: www.rememuseum.org.uk

4. Skinner’s Horse, an authentic World War I cavalry regiment re-enactment unit, is holding displays at various venues over the summer. For details visit www.skinnershorse.co.uk

5. Donate money to an equine charity that helps look after working horses. The Brooke, for example, was founded by Dorothy Brooke in 1934 to care for World War I veteran horses sold to Egypt. It is now an international animal welfare organisation for working horses, donkeys and mules. Visit www.thebrooke.org

6. Get tickets for the stage spectacle ‘War Horse’. Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo, South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company brings the full-scale horses to life on the stage, to create a play that you won’t forget. Just remember to pack your hankie… Visit: www.warhorseonstage.com

For more details about local and national events being run this summer to commemorate World War I, check out www.firstworldwarcentenary.co.uk, www.greatwar.co.uk, www.centenarynews.com and www.1914.org

Read the full feature about World War I horses in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (31 July 2014)

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West Londoners from three villages near Heathrow gathered last weekend (20 July) to remember the horses of World War 1.

In the pageant, organised by Harmondsworth resident Roy Barwick, there were mounted representatives from the Metropolitan police, Light Cavalry HAC and Indian horsemen.

Heavy horses were on parade drawing vehicles from the period including a wagonette built in 1900, ammunitions cart and farm cart.

Organiser Phil Rumsey said: “This event reflects the strength of our community who wanted to honour the men and horses from this area who gave their lives for us. We will remember them.”

One million horses and mules were engaged in WW1.

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H&H racing columnist Brough Scott is to unveil a half-size bronze of his grandfather, General Jack Seely, astride his war horse Warrior next month.

The Seely family commissioned the statue from equine sculptor, Philip Blacker

It has been loaned to English Heritage and will be installed at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight.

The statue will be in the castle’s museum for the duration of the World War 1 centenary as part of an exhibition, Men and Horses Go to War.

Warrior who was bred on the Isle of Wight, went to France with General Jack Seely on one of the first boats in August 1914.

8 million horses and mules died in WW1, but Warrior survived 4 years on the Western front, returning home at the of the war safe and sound.

The sculpture is based on the famous Munnings picture used in the book published about Warrior’s life.

Brough Scott, author, said: “It is both thrilling and appropriate that Warrior and my grandfather should now stand together in Carisbrooke Castle at the very centre of the Isle of Wight where they spent so many great times both before and after their war time adventures.”

Carisbrooke Castle is open daily from 10am-6pm.

For more information visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/carisbrooke

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Horses were pivotal, both on and off the battlefield, carrying men into battle and pulling ammunition and ambulances.

But their casualty rates were even higher than the men they were serving. One million horses left Britain for the Western Front during World War I, but only 60,000 returned. It is thought that more than 8million perished on both sides during the carnage.

Their deaths were rarely dignified. Hundreds drowned in the mud or were left to die of their injuries in ditches on the side of the road.

“Horses were a mute victim of the war because they didn’t have the ability to say no,” said General Sir Jack Deverell, chairman of the National Army Museum.

“We should not forget how important they were; we depended on the horse right the way through the war.”

The end of the cavalry

The use of horses in the war marked a period of change in armed conflict.

When the war started in 1914, both Britain and Germany had a cavalry force of approximately 100,000 men. At this point, many senior military personnel believed in the supremacy of the cavalry attack.

But as trench warfare developed, with the arrival of machine guns and barbed wire, the use of horses became impossible.

One of the last-known cavalry charges took place in Moreuil Woods, France, on 30 March 1918. Some 150 horses were used in the charge, with only four surviving the machine gunfire.

Fact and fiction

Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel War Horse has highlighted the role played by horses to millions though its transformation into a play and film.

As part of the centenary commemorations, the National Theatre and National Army Museum are joining forces to explore the history behind the much-loved story. Travelling with the National Theatre’s touring production, the museum’s team will be visiting schools and colleges to deliver free War Horse workshops to children. They will explore the story’s context ahead of their theatre visit.

Michael, who celebrated his 70th birthday last November, has always hoped that War Horse would help to bring understanding and reconciliation.

“The last of the old soldiers, theirs and ours, of the first World War are now all gone,” he said. “In their place is a growing respect between the nations, and a determination to forge reconciliation and understanding.

“If the play of War Horse — and the book and the film — can play a small part in this new beginning, then I shall be a happy man.”

Immortalised in bronze

The town of Romsey, Hampshire has commissioned a life-sized bronze statue to commemorate the town’s involvement with war horses.

Romsey was home to a Remount Depot which was used to assemble and train horses for war. More than 120,000 are thought to have passed through the centre during the war.

The town is looking to raise £65,000 for the statue, which will be placed at the entrance to its War Memorial Park.

Sculptor Amy Goodman has been tasked with creating the memorial. Ms Goodman has already made a small scale model of the statue which won the British Sporting Art Trust best sculpture award.

“Being involved in the project is such an honour,” Ms Goodman said. “I wish to convey the powerful bond between horse and trooper, despite their hardship through war.”

A challenge for the future

Welfare charities are keen to emphasise the dangers that face horses today while we commemorate horses’ suffering in the past.

World Horse Welfare is hoping to combine the anniversary with fundraising efforts for the present by hosting a Battlefield Centenary ride in the autumn.

The ride will travel through northern France and Belgium aiming to take in three major battle sites — Soignes, Nery and Mons.

“The ride is still in the early stages of planning, but we are aiming to be off on our horses from mid to late September,” said Fran Plume from World Horse Welfare.

“It’s not often you get to ride where the brave once rode.”

An app based on Michael Morpurgo’s best-selling children’s novel War Horse has been launched for Remembrance Day, with the help of organisations including equine welfare charity The Brooke.

The app features an 80-minute reading of the book, an interview with the author and a timeline that explores the First World War through documents, maps, photographs and film.

“When I wrote my story all those years ago in Devon, I never dreamed that Joey [the hero of the story] would gallop on like this,” said Michael.

“First there was the National Theatre’s amazing production, then a wonderful movie by one of the world’s greatest directors, and now an app which truly has the spirit of my original story right at its centre. I couldn’t be more delighted.”

Dorothy Brooke set up The Brooke hospital in Cairo, 1934, to rescue army horses and extracts of her diary and images of the horses there are included on the app.

The Brooke’s CEO Petra Ingram said: “It is a wonderful way to bring the War Horse story alive in a way that is engaging and fun.”

The app costs £9.99 and is available from www.itunes.com/appstore.

For more information visit www.thebrooke.org

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Olympic and Paralympic medal-winning British riders were among the celebrities out in force to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the play War Horse last night (Thursday 25 October).

Charlotte Dujardin, Tina Cook, Nicola Wilson, Natasha Baker, Deb Criddle, Sophie Christiansen and Sophie Wells all took to the red carpet for the special performance of the show at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane.

“I thoroughly enjoyed it,” Deb told H&H. “I took lots of tissues, and didn’t need as many as expected but it really brought home the story of horses and how terrible the war was. Seeing it on stage was really moving.

“Being a horse person it’s obviously upsetting — but it’s so well done. You quickly forget there are people operating the puppets, the horses are so expressive — their ears moving and their mannerisms.

“I was chatting to [author] Michael Morpurgo before the show and he was very interesting. And listening to him explain on stage at the end the reasons behind writing the book — hearing how he met a veteran whose best friend was a horse — was just so touching.”

Tina Cook, who was also watching the play for the first time, added: “It was totally magical. I really enjoyed it, the skills of the actors in the horses were fantastic. They really brought the puppets to life.”

War Horse, based on the children’s book by Michael Morpurgo, opened at the National Theatre in October 2007.

More than 1.6 million people have seen the show in London with more than 2.4 million people seeing the production worldwide.

And next year War Horse is going on tour. The tour will begin in the autumn and travel tonine venues across the UK and Ireland — Plymouth, Birmingham, Salford, Edinburgh, Southampton, Sunderland, Bradford, Cardiff and Dublin.

War Horse is also currently running in New York, Toronto and on a North American tour, with future productions planned for Australia and Berlin.

“From a Devon meadow a hundred and more years ago, to the battlefields of the First WorldWar, to London, to New York, and soon to Australia and Berlin, our Joey keeps on running,” said author Michael Morpurgo.

“It’s five years since the National Theatre took this little known story, and transformed it, told it their way, wonderfully. Since that night in the Olivier when Joey first trotted out into the spotlight, millions of grown-up children and children around the world have come to know and love Joey’s story, through play, film, concert and book. So thank you National Theatre, thank you Joey, and thank you especially to those actors and puppeteers who go on every night and make War Horse the unique theatrical event it has become.”

For more information visit: www.warhorselondon.com or www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

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Following the success of the play and now the film, War Horse has inspired a TV documentary.

War Horse: The Real Story will be broadcast on Channel 4 at 9pm on 4 March.

The documentary produced by Testimony Films covers the role and welfare of horses in World War I and the contrast with the present day use of horses in the military.

Almost a million horses fought on the Western Front during the war but only 60,000 returned to Britain.

The rest either died in the war or were sold in France as workhorses or for meat.

A TV crew filmed at the Horse Trust, based in Speen, Buckinghamshire, on 1 February.

The charity, then known as The Home of Rest for Horses, provided the first motorised horse ambulance to transport wounded horses from the front line in France during the Great War.

According to the charity’s 1916 Annual Report, in two years this ambulance traveled around 13,000 miles and carried in excess of 1,000 injured horses.

The first war horse that retired to The Home of Rest for Horses in 1919 was San Toy (pictured), who had served in both the Boer War and First World War.

He was joined by a number of other veterans, including Roger, a German cavalry horse.

Roger was found rider-less on the battlefield during the infamous battle of the Somme by a British Army officer who took him to safety and at the end of the war brought him back to England to retire to the Home of Rest.

“The hard work and sacrifice of horses in the Great War is all to easily forgotten, overshadowed by the tragic deaths of nearly a million men of Britain and her Empire on the Western Front,” said George Pagliero,

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Steven Spielberg’s War Horse has been nominated for Best Picture for this year’s Oscars.

War Horse goes up against eight other films including The Artist, Moneyball, The Help and Hugo.

The film is also nominated in the cinematography, original score, sound editing, sound mixing and art direction categories.

The tear-jerker follows the journey of a young man Albert and his horse Joey in World War One. It is the Hollywood adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 book War Horse, which has also been transformed into a hit West End production.

The film was released on Friday 13 January and went straight to the top of the UK and Ireland box office chart in its opening weekend. It took £3.94m – more than double of its closest rival The Iron Lady.

As well as being directed by Spielberg, the film has a host of top names involved. The screenplay has been written by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) and Richard Curtis (Love, Actually) and it stars British actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Jeremy Irvine and Tom Hiddleston.

The winners will be announced at the Oscars ceremony on Sunday 26 February.

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Success with Liqueur means lots of liquor! Liqueur Rose’s success at Bangor recently was notable for so many reasons.

First, she is a beautifully bred own-sister to Amaretto Rose who was the first horse I ever sat on at Nicky Henderson’s yard in July 2006. Amaretto was certainly no stunner but immensely talented. Her career was blighted by hard luck but also punctuated with displays of an untouchable talent, evident in the 2007 running of the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

Second, although Amaretto was sold by her breeder – locally based former trainer Colin Jackson – for a meagre £11,000, Liqueur Rose is still owned by Colin, his wife Ann and daughter Sarah. She is the third generation of her family to use the Caradoc gallops as Colin would bring her mother Teenero and grandmother Miss Nero down here for their race preparations.

Third, she was in pre-training with highly talented horseman Marcus Foley at Barbury Castle. Marcus and I are old friends from our days at Seven Barrows and he tipped the then-unnamed Liqueur Rose as one to note very early. He also got run away with on Amaretto Rose in her first ever run and confounded all by winning impressively; that takes some doing around Towcester!

Fourth, it was jockey Denis O’Regan’s first success for the stable. He had said very early on that he wished to ride for me and has been a regular work and schooling jockey during the week. His ecstatic grin said it all. In addition, although she didn’t win by far in a weak sort of race, he said that next year over hurdles on softer ground she could be one to look forward to – always good to hear!

Fifth, (apologies if you find number listing dull!), it was the first winner that wore the logo of our yard sponsors – Hereford Forklift Trucks.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, it was the first winner in my mother’s colours. This filly is not owned but leased by her syndicate, which means when she is in training the “Mumbo Jumbos” pay and hopefully enjoy her, but as soon as she is out of training for some reason then she returns to the Jacksons at Cradley. Ultimately of course she will return to them for her breeding career. A good deal indeed and very much the same as Amaretto Rose – owned by Shade Oak Stud while being a first lease for the Weatherby’s Racing Club. Let us hope the first time is a charm!

Jane Symonds (aka Mum) has owned and had shares in racehorses, pointers and even trotters (they wore her colours, anyway) and has never seen them come home in front. The colours were a family heirloom left to her by her great-grandfather. She has done so much for me – the free taxi service, the cooking, dealing with tantrums, not to mention expensive schooling! So I was absolutely delighted to be able to train a winner for her – racing’s ultimate thrill. Someone who selflessly gives so much to others certainly deserves that.

Furthermore, her motley crew were all her close friends from her childhood to the present day. An insignificant race, but never has so little meant so much to so few – I hope Churchill won’t mind me adapting an appropriate phrase!

Not so lucky this time

Luck doesn’t always go the way you hope and nearly a week later saw another home-bred Alflora mare, Fleur De Vassy, lead all the way at Ffos Las before being cut down in true Crisp style by the Peter Bowen-trained Normally.

They always say that you should back the first trainer you see at the racecourse and of course on arrival I greeted Peter and Karen Bowen with a polite wave and hello. I might have said something different on their departure!

Fleur De Vassy is owned by a syndicate that includes Len Jakeman, who also raced her mother Royale De Vassy who sadly died last year. Len also owned horses in partnership with Mum at Venetia Williams’, so understood what the previous Friday had meant. Len has an intricate knowledge of racing and knows that Fleur is no star but that a chase win would help embellish her pedigree for imminent breeding purposes and, of cours,e the memory of her mother.

Her brother – Royale’s Charter – is currently performing with credit under the care of shrewd trainer Nick Williams. Hopefully he can help endow the pedigree upon Fleur’s retirement. Although the result was annoying, she ran a cracker under a very good ride by the massively under rated Felix De Giles. Furthermore, we all enjoyed a great day under the guidance of racecourse supremo Dai Walters – what an entertainer!

An exclusive showing of War Horse

Thursday also saw the local premiere of War Horse at the Courtyard Theatre in Hereford. One of the film’s executive producers, Revel Guest, sadly lost her young grandson Thomas to a brain tumor in December 2010. Dreamworks agreed to allow an exclusive early showing of her film in her local city and in aid of the Thomas Grahame Trust. It was a very well attended event and one that is close to my heart, having lost my school friend Patrick Lamb in the same way at the age of 16.

As the stage show is so outstanding, Steven Spielberg certainly had a lot to live up to. It is a film littered with so many current themes and one that appropriately shows how “hope can be found in the extremes of adversity”.

In her pre-film speech, Revel suggested how the film evokes emotions through people’s bond with animals, but also mankind’s bond with each other. Sadly, World War One cannot account for man’s injustice to man. In Afghanistan a son, daughter, brother, sister, spouse or friend are lost all too regularly and War Horse reminds us that the horrors of war are still evident.

It will also serve as a memorial for Corisande, Angus, Iona and Lisabel of their son and brother who fought so valiantly against the most unjust adversity.

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To coincide with the release of the film War Horse this week (13 January) World Horse Welfare are remembering their horses, past and present, who have given exceptional service to the forces and the police.

Digger

An eight-year-old 19hh Clydesdale (pictured). He is on a two year programme to become a drum horse with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

This ‘gentle giant’ was taken in by Belwade Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aberdeenshire in 2010 after his owners could no longer care for him.

He was soon rehomed and is adapting well to his new career. Household Cavalry Adjutant, Captain Roly Spiller, said: “Digger has proven to be a hugely popular horse with an excellent temperament, and is making good progress with his training.”

Penny

Taken in by the Charity’s Penny Farm Rescue and Rehoming Centre in 2001, extremely underweight and covered in lice.

The mare, now 14, was rehomed to the King’s Troop where she continues to take part in many high-profile ceremonies, including the Queen Mother’s Funeral.

Chief Executive of World Horse Welfare Roly Owers said: “It is sometimes difficult to believe where horses such as Penny came from; she has undergone a complete transformation and now carries out one of the most prestigious roles performed by a horse in the country.”

Marley

Served Greater Manchester Police after being cared for as a youngster by the Belwade Rescue and Rehoming Centre in Aberdeenshire in 2002.

Fran Williamson who trained Marley at Greater Manchester Police said: “He was a strong character and carried out his police duties admirably and served the Police force well.”

After seven years of service Marley has now been retired to a loving family.

Copenhagen

Enjoyed his retirement at the World Horse Welfare headquarters after 14 years of service for the Household Cavalry.

The black gelding was seriously injured during the notorious IRA attack in Hyde Park on the men and horses of The Queen’s Life Guard in 1982.

General Manager at the time, Richard Felton said: “Despite his previous injuries and shrapnel still embedded in his body this gallant horse enjoyed a happy retirement at Hall Farm, Snetterton.”

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