Sefton (horse) facts for kids
Sefton being honoured as 'Horse of the Year', 1982
|
|
| Species | Equus ferus caballus |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | July 1963 County Waterford, Ireland |
| Died | 9 July 1993 (aged 29–30) Speen, Buckinghamshire |
| Resting place | Defence Animal Training Regiment, Melton Mowbray |
| Occupation | Military cavalry horse |
| Years active | 1967-1984 |
| Owner | British Army |
| Height | 16.1 hands (1.7 m) |
| Awards |
|
Sefton (1963–1993) was a very special British Army horse. He served for 17 years, from 1967 to 1984. Sefton became famous when he was badly hurt in a bomb attack in London. Even though he was seriously injured, he made an amazing recovery. He even went back to work! Later, he was named "Horse of the Year." Sefton was also one of the first horses to join the British Horse Society's Hall of Fame. There's even an award named after him to this day.
Contents
Sefton's Early Life
Born in Ireland
Sefton was born in July 1963 in County Waterford, Ireland. He was a mix of an Irish Draught horse and a local racehorse. When he was two years old, a man named Michael Conners bought him.
Joining the Army
In 1967, when Sefton was four, the Army came to inspect him. They chose him right away and paid £275, which was the usual price. Sefton then traveled by ferry from Dublin with 25 other young horses. These horses were going to join the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery and the Household Cavalry.
New Name, New Nickname
At the Army stables, Sefton got his name from Lord Sefton, a former officer. But in the stable, everyone called him 'Sharky.' This was because he liked to gently nip or bite!
Learning the Ropes
In September 1967, Sefton moved to Wellington Barracks in London. He was assigned to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. A soldier named Trooper McGregor helped train him. Sefton took a bit longer to train than other horses. He wasn't always quick to follow commands. But by June 1968, he had finished his training. He even got his army number, 5/816, marked on his back hooves.
A Horse with Personality
By 1969, Sefton was known for being a bit tricky. He sometimes broke ranks during parades or fidgeted. Because of this, Sefton was sent to Germany with the Blues and Royals regiment.
Hunting and Showjumping
In Germany, Sefton joined a special hunting group. He became the main horse for the 'whipper-in,' who helps guide the hunt. Sefton was great at this job! He was a bold jumper and very fast. This made him very popular. He wasn't given to new recruits to learn on. Instead, he was a special reward for the best new soldiers to ride.
Sefton also competed in showjumping. Between 1969 and 1974, he won a lot of prize money. He was even part of the army team for the British Army of the Rhine. He also won a point-to-point race, which is a type of steeplechase.
Back to London Duties
In 1975, there was a horse sickness at Knightsbridge Barracks in London. This meant there weren't enough large, black horses for important ceremonies. Sefton had a minor leg issue at the time. He was immediately chosen to return to England. For the next four years, he worked for the Household Cavalry. He performed guard duties and appeared in horse shows like Quadrilles and tent pegging. He continued showjumping, even at the Royal Tournament. After 1980, as he got older, he slowly stopped competing in sports.
The Hyde Park Bombing
On July 20, 1982, Sefton was on his way to the traditional Changing of the Guard. He was with 15 other horses and soldiers from his regiment. At 10:40 AM, a bomb exploded in Hyde Park. This bomb was planted by a group called the IRA. The explosion hit the horses and riders.
A Terrible Day
Two soldiers died right away, and two more died later from their injuries. The blast hurt all the horses. Seven horses were so badly injured that they had to be put down to stop their suffering. Their names were Cedric, Epaulette, Falcon, Rochester, Waterford, Yeastvite, and Zara. Sefton and eight other horses were also hurt. Sefton's injuries were the most serious among the horses who survived. Another horse, Echo, was hit by metal pieces. Yeti, another horse, was not physically hurt but was very scared and shaken by the attack. A second bomb exploded two hours later in Regent's Park, killing seven more soldiers.
Sefton's Injuries
Sefton's injuries were very bad. He had a major cut on his neck, a wounded left eye, and 34 wounds all over his body. His rider, Trooper Michael Pedersen, said Sefton reacted so well that he wasn't thrown off when the bomb exploded. Trooper Pedersen was in shock and couldn't help Sefton much at first.
Emergency Help
Many soldiers from the barracks rushed to the scene. This included their commander and the veterinary officer, Major Noel Carding. Major Carding quickly saw how badly Sefton was hurt. He knew they had to get him back to the barracks fast to save him.
Sefton was the worst injured and I knew that we had to get him back if there was to be any chance of saving him
—Major Noel Carding, Veterinary Officer of the Household Cavalry, and one of the first on scene
Sefton was put into the first horsebox that arrived. He was taken to the forge, which was closer than the stables. There, Major Carding began a 90-minute emergency operation to save Sefton's life. He was the first British Army vet in over 50 years to operate on war wounds in a cavalry horse. He also directed the care for the other injured horses. Thanks to Major Carding, other vets, and soldiers, all the horses brought back from the explosion were saved.
Sefton's Amazing Recovery
Sefton had eight hours of surgery. This was a record for horse surgery in 1982! It was truly amazing that he survived. Three weeks later, he moved to a special animal hospital. More pieces of metal were removed from his body there.
Support and Donations
While in the hospital, Sefton received tons of cards and mints from people who cared. People also donated a lot of money, over £620,000! This money was used to build a new surgery wing at the Royal Veterinary College. It was named the Sefton Surgical Wing in his honor.
Horse of the Year
In 1982, Sefton returned to his duties with his regiment. He often walked past the exact spot where he had been so badly hurt. That same year, he was given the "Horse of the Year" award. With Trooper Pedersen riding him again, Sefton was the star of the Horse of the Year Show.
Retirement and Legacy
On August 29, 1984, Sefton retired from the Household Cavalry. He moved to the Home of Rest For Horses in Speen, Buckinghamshire. He went with Echo, the police horse who also survived the bombing. Echo had become nervous of traffic and crowds and couldn't work anymore.
Sefton lived at the center until he was 30 years old. Sadly, he had to be put down on July 9, 1993. This was because of a severe leg problem that was a complication from his bombing injuries. He was buried at the Defence Animal Training Regiment in Melton Mowbray.
Commemoration
After his incredible experience, Sefton became one of the first horses to be placed in the British Horse Society's equestrian Hall of Fame. There is also an annual award named after him.
In 2013, a statue of Sefton was unveiled at the Royal Veterinary College. It was made to honor Professor Peter Lees and was paid for by Lord Ballyedmond.
