Staff at The Horse Trust are “completely heartbroken” following the loss of one of its oldest and dearest residents, Union, formerly of The Household Cavalry, at the age of 33.
Union, or Onion as he was affectionately known, was described as “the ultimate Household Cavalry horse”. He arrived with the charity in August 2012 after a long and successful career of service.
He was said to have had the right temperament for an experienced rider or a beginner and was a favourite of the Corporal Major. Union’s stable manners were described as “perfect”, allowing anybody into his stall to groom, clip or make a fuss of him.
Union took part in every Trooping the Colour from 1995 as either a Trooper or a Band Horse until his retirement 17 years later in 2012. Union attended State Openings of Parliament as well as State Visits both in London and Windsor. He was also part of The Queen’s Golden Jubilee celebrations and the 2011 Royal Wedding.
He played an integral part in The Queen’s Birthday Parade in 2010 when he carried the Standard behind The Queen with millions of viewers watching.
Union in his retirement
Mark Avison, Director of Equine Care at The Horse Trust, knew Union in both his working career and retirement.
“Everyone who had the privilege of riding Union on Ceremonial Parades would have thought they had won the lottery,” he said.
“With the ride being like sitting in your luxury armchair, slippers on and putting on your favourite film, knowing that once you and Union would walk out and through the famous Ceremonial Gates at Hyde Park Barracks and turn right you didn’t have to worry about anything else.
“He wouldn’t put a hoof wrong, in every Ceremonial Parade, commitment and every position possible. He was one in a million.”
Union had been suffering from arthritis for some time prior to his passing but this had been controlled by The Horse Trust team with pain relief. However, he was recently found in his field with colic.
The combination of this with his arthritis made him “very miserable” and the difficult decision had to be made to put him to sleep.
“Union had such an incredible working career followed by such a long and leisurely retirement and one that he deserved so much,” added a charity spokesman. “We are so honoured to have had the pleasure of caring for him for close to a decade of his extraordinary life.
