Household Cavalry and King's Troop horses now take rest breaks in the fields of The Horse Trust at Speen. The Princess Royal marked the charity's 140th year.

Serving horses from the Household Cavalry and the King’s Troop are now being sent to The Horse Trust at Speen, near Princes Risborough, for spells of rest in its fields.

The charity says this takes it back to the job it was set up to do in 1886. It marked its 140th anniversary at a reception at Hyde Park Barracks in London on Tuesday 15 September. Its patron, the Princess Royal, was among the guests.

Why Army horses are coming to Speen

The arrangement grew out of the incident involving Household Cavalry horses in London in April 2024. After it, the charity and the British Army looked at how extra respite care could support the horses’ welfare. They also wanted to reduce the risk of something similar happening again.

A trial followed. The charity says it was a success. Serving horses from two units now spend time at Speen on a rotational basis:

  • the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment
  • the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery

They get a change of scene and time out on the Trust’s pastures. According to the charity, the approach has shown “encouraging results”, with better behaviour from the horses and benefits to the safety of soldiers.

A black horse and a grey horse touch noses over a wooden fence in a field of buttercups
Two of the five horses involved in the April 2024 incident in London. Photo: supplied by The Horse Trust.

The respite visits sit alongside a longer arrangement. The Trust already gives permanent retirement to former military horses and other service horses. It took in seven newly retired Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment horses this September.

A soldier in Army service dress and a red-banded cap strokes a dark horse over a wooden fence
A representative of the Household Cavalry with Quaker, a resident of The Horse Trust. Photo: Daydream Equine Photography, supplied by The Horse Trust.

What the chief executive said

Jeanette Allen, chief executive of The Horse Trust, said:

“We were delighted to celebrate The Horse Trust’s 140th anniversary with our Patron HRH The Princess Royal, alongside our partners in the British Army and the many supporters who make our work possible. It was a valuable opportunity to showcase the lives of these horses while they are still working, and to demonstrate how respite can enhance their welfare long before they reach retirement.”

“Our partnership also brings us back to our founding mission in 1886, when The Horse Trust was established to provide respite for London’s working cab horses. It’s wonderful to see this principle being revived for a new generation of service horses, helping us to enhance their wellbeing both during and after their working lives.”

A mounted King's Guard in a red tunic, breastplate and plumed helmet sits on a black horse beside an open gate
A mounted King's Guard at the anniversary event. Photo: Joss Ridley, supplied by The Horse Trust.

The reception

Supporters, partners and representatives of the British Army attended the event at Hyde Park Barracks. Guests met horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. They also heard how the new Respite Programme has been developed with the Army.

The charity said the evening was a chance to thank the people and organisations who support its work. Saracen Horse Feeds supported the event.

Back to 1886

The Horse Trust was founded on 10 May 1886 by Ann Lindo. The charity says she was inspired by Anna Sewell’s novel Black Beauty. She set up a home of rest for London’s cab horses.

That first scheme gave working horses rest, treatment and care. Meanwhile it lent out healthy horses so that their owners could keep earning a living. The charity says the Respite Programme continues that idea, giving London’s working horses more time turned out at grass.

Two dark horses greet each other over a wooden fence in autumn sunshine
Quaker meets another Horse Trust resident over the fence at Speen. Photo: Daydream Equine Photography, supplied by The Horse Trust.

£90,000 for more fields

The extra capacity comes partly from the charity’s Home for More Horses project, which raised £90,000. The Trust says the money has let it take in more horses while still caring for the retired and rescued animals already there.

A grass track runs between new post and rail fencing across a field towards a wooded hillside
New fields fenced under the Home for More Horses project. Photo: supplied by The Horse Trust.
A newly fenced grass field with a line of trees beyond, under a blue sky
More of the additional fields from the Home for More Horses project. Photo: supplied by The Horse Trust.

The charity describes itself as the world’s oldest equine charity, and says it relies entirely on donations and legacy gifts. As well as retired service horses, it cares for rescued horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Close-up of a dark horse with a white star looking over a wooden fence
Quaker at The Horse Trust. Photo: Daydream Equine Photography, supplied by The Horse Trust.

Sefton’s Barn

Visitors to Speen will find Sefton’s Barn, named after Army horse Sefton. He survived the Hyde Park nail bomb attack in 1982, then retired to The Horse Trust, where he lived for more than nine years. There is also a tea room named after Black Beauty.

Black and white photograph of a grey horse on a lead rope meeting a dark horse with a white blaze looking out of a stable door
Echo and Sefton at The Horse Trust. Photo: supplied by The Horse Trust.

With Remembrance Sunday approaching, the charity says it is reflecting on the horses that have served alongside people through history.

What it means for you

The Horse Trust is on Slad Lane, Speen, HP27 0PP. It is open to visitors from Thursday to Sunday, 1pm to 4pm, and is closed in December and January. Its visit page also lists bank holiday opening, with last entry at 3.40pm. Prices on that page when we checked on 29 October 2026:

  • £8 per car, general admission
  • £5 per car, concession
  • £12 per minibus of up to 18 people
  • £1 per person arriving on foot
  • £35 for a season pass

The charity says it gives retirement and respite to horses that have served the country or protected communities.

A dark horse grazing in a fenced paddock with autumn trees behind
Quaker grazing at The Horse Trust. Photo: Daydream Equine Photography, supplied by The Horse Trust.

More about the charity is on The Horse Trust’s website.