Cavalry horses look forward to retirement

The Buckinghamshire horse charity, The Home of Rest for Horses, has opened its doors to two more horses from the Household Cavalry.

It’s the first time the home has taken on horses from Knightsbridge Barracks since Sefton, the horse who captured the nation’s heart when he survived an IRA bombing in 1982, came to live here.The two arrivals at the Princes Risborough centre are Janus, an 18.2hh coloured drum horse, and Kettledrum, 16.2hh black Irish-bred gelding, whose last ride was at this year’s Trooping the Colour.

Both have served the Household Cavalry for more than 15 years.”There are not that many spaces usually available, but we are very please to have these two, ” says Doug Hilton from The Home of Rest for Horses, which is also open to the public.

Another recent case which has benefited from the charity is Brandy, a pony who was “dumped” outside the home of a woman after being travelled for more than four hours by her ex-husband.

“The pony was in a very emaciated state with an ulcer through its face. She is now being nursed back to health and is running around in the field,” says Doug.

But he says the group’s work is not just about rescue. “With 50,000 horses being destroyed each year, we are very concerned with educating the public about what it means to own a horse, ” he says.

For more information on The Home of Rest for Horses visit www.homeofrestforhorses.co.uk

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