A King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery horse was put down on Tuesday 6 May after an accident during rehearsals for the first Royal Windsor Tattoo.
The King’s Troop performed its musical drive at the Tattoo that took place in the evenings of the Royal Windsor Horse Show (8-10 May).
The display involves a “scissors” movement where the whole troop criss-crosses at the gallop, while pulling 6 tonne gun carriages.
A King’s Troop spokesman said: “It’s very sad. There was a collision and the mare Capriole broke both front legs and had to be put down.
“The horses are going hell for leather and they have to time it so that they pass in the middle. Something went wrong on this occasion.”
The accident mirrors an incident in 2005 when a horse collided with a gun carriage during the same manoeuvre.
On that occasion, the accident took place in front of crowds during an evening performance of the show.
Royal Windsor organiser Simon Brooks-Ward said: “It was a very sad and regrettable accident. The King’s Troop takes all precautions to make the drive as safe as possible.”
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (15 May, ’08). To read Horse & Hound’s exclusive news first, pick up your copy every Thursday morning
