Two of the five horses which rampaged through central London yesterday, injuring four people, are said to be a "serious condition", a minister has said.
Vida and Quaker, who ran more than five miles from Buckingham Palace Road to Limehouse, are now back at Household Cavalry barracks being looked after by vets.
The animals were taking part in what the Army called a "routine exercise" in the Belgravia area on Wednesday when they threw off their riders and began galloping through the streets of the capital.
Defence Minister James Cartlidge said: "Obviously it was quite dramatic coverage but I just want to stress that it was an exceptional event.
Two of the horses are in a 'serious condition'
PA"There were five horses they have all been recovered. Three of them are fine, two are unfortunately in a relatively very serious condition and, obviously, we will be monitoring their situation," he told Sky News.
Asked if they are still alive, he replied: "As I understand it they are in a serious condition but still alive."
Yesterday morning, four service personnel were thrown from their horses, with the animals proceeding to smash into vehicles as they bolted through London.
Buckingham Palace Road was closed after the incident and a cordon was put in place while emergency services attended the scene. Four people were taken to hospital following the incident.
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A white horse on the loose bolts through the streets of London near AldwychPAA silver Mercedes-Benz people carrier was also reportedly hit, with damage to its side and two rear windows broken. Victoria Coach Station was also closed while emergency services attended the scene.
The animals are understood to have become spooked after they fell on concrete during their daily morning exercise.
They were taking part in a rehearsal for a Major General's Inspection, which is set to take place today in Hyde Park.
One witness was getting off a bus when she saw the two horses, one black and the other white, "flying past".
"The white one was drenched in blood from the chest down and they were galloping through the traffic at speed," she said.
Bashir Aden, 48, a construction worker, told The Telegraph: "I saw a soldier falling down into the street after the horse ran into a car. One of my colleagues called the police. The man hit the floor hard, he was screaming in pain. You could see blood all over the parked car."
One of the horses was spotted covered in bloodPAAssistant Commissioner Keeley Foster, who helped co-ordinate the London Fire Brigade’s response, said: "London Fire Brigade was alerted at around 8.30am today to report of several horses that had bolted on Buckingham Palace Road in Central London.
"Crews and officers were mobilised to the scenes of two collisions, including one near Victoria Railway Station where a horse was involved in a collision with a taxi.
"We also assisted and worked closely with partners after a person fell from a horse in Belgrave Square.
"Due to reports that several horses were unaccounted for, the Brigade’s response for large animal rescues was also alerted, along with the drone team and National Interagency Liaison Officers to assist in the search and the horses were quickly accounted for."
