During some well-deserved downtime from ceremonial duties, the soldiers took their steeds to Hayling Island in Hampshire to splash in the surf and gallop along the sands.
As well as giving the animals a break from the capital’s busy streets, the trip was a chance to expose them to new sights and smells – which helps build trust in their riders and makes them less likely to startle when faced with something unfamiliar during a parade.
Among those overcoming nerves and taking a dip was Vida, the horse pictured covered in blood after bolting in London last April that has since been undergoing rehab.
Following the seaside outing, the regiment headed back to barracks to prepare for this month’s state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.
