A military horse that bolted through the heart of London after being alarmed by construction noise has now been retired to a rural environment.

Quaker, aged 15, was among five horses from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment that were startled when debris fell through a plastic tunnel during a training exercise in Belgravia on April 24 of the previous year.

Video footage of the terrified horses was broadcast globally after being filmed by a BBC cameraman who was documenting the Post Office Inquiry.

As a result of the chaos, riders were thrown off their mounts, and the horses dashed through the streets, colliding with vehicles, including a double-decker bus, leading to several injuries.

During the incident, Quaker experienced bleeding and sustained a minor fracture. Following surgery, he was cared for at the Horse Trust’s sanctuary in Buckinghamshire.

Quaker’s rider suffered a broken back from the fall, but after a year of recovery, he has been able to resume his duties and rides once again.

Major Thomas Stewart, leader of the Life Guards squadron, stated that Quaker is the only one of the five horses that has not been able to return to his previous role.

Trojan, Tennyson, Vanquish, and Vida, the other Household Cavalry horses, have all resumed their tasks.

“It was concluded that, for [Quaker’s] well-being, it was best if he did not return to us in London,” he commented.

“It’s more beneficial for him to be here and live comfortably in this environment.”

Jeanette Allen, CEO of the Horse Trust, noted that Quaker’s retirement includes activities such as eating, napping, and gallivanting whenever he feels like it.

“Our organization was established nearly 140 years ago by a woman inspired by the book Black Beauty, who aimed to assist London’s cab horses,” she mentioned.

“Providing relief for working horses in London is where we began, and over time, we expanded to retire military horses.”

Lt Colonel Matt Woodward, the commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, remarked that the incident from April last year was out of the ordinary, explaining that “the horses became disoriented.”

“They were located at a place called Wilson Crescent,” he detailed. “They turned around the crescent incorrectly and exited on the east side.

“Had they exited on the north side, they would have returned to Hyde Park, and everything likely would have gone smoothly.

“Unfortunately, they ended up heading toward Victoria, with a couple making their way to Limehouse, which is quite a distance.”

The Horse Trust provides a permanent home for 32 retired military horses, 26 of which have served with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

In addition to accommodating horses at the end of their service, the trust also administers a respite program that allows military and police horses to take short breaks and summer holidays before returning to their duties rejuvenated.

The Horse Trust invests approximately £2.5 million annually in the care of its horses, with most funding coming from donations.