Sefton (horse)

Sefton (1963–1993) was a British Army horse who served for 17 years from 1967 to 1984, coming to prominence when he was critically injured in the Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings, which combined killed seven other horses, and eleven people. He recovered sufficiently to return to active service and was subsequently awarded "Horse of the Year". Sefton became one of the first horses to be placed in the British Horse Society's equestrian Hall of Fame, and with an annual award named after him.

Sefton was born in July 1963 in County Waterford, Ireland, as a cross between an Irish Draught mare and a local Thoroughbred stallion (thought to have been called Honour's Choice). He was purchased as a two-year-old by local Michael Conners, who then took him as a four-year-old to the nearby Pallas Stud to be inspected by the Army Purchasing Commission on 1 June 1967, who chose him immediately, paying the then standard £275.

He was then shipped via ferry from Dublin along with 25 other three- and four-year-old horses destined for the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery and other parts of the Household Cavalry. Here, he was named Sefton after Lord Sefton, a former Household Cavalry officer, but was nicknamed 'Sharky' in the stable, due to his predilection for biting.

In September 1967, he was moved to Wellington Barracks, London, and assigned to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, where he was broken in by Trooper McGregor, taking a longer than average time to be broken, as he was not quick to submit to rider commands. He 'passed out' in June 1968, and had his regimental number 5/816 marked on to his hind hooves.

However, by the summer of 1969, Sefton had gained a reputation for being difficult, and for breaking ranks, fidgeting and . For these reasons, Sefton was sent with the Blues and Royals on deployment to Germany. He joined the Weser Vale Hunt, a bloodhound pack set up by Captain Bill Stringer, chasing volunteer runners. He quickly became the whipper-in's mount, and excelled in this task, with a bold jump and fast pace. This made him a very popular horse, and due to his nature, he was not given to recruits to learn on, but offered as a prize for the best recruits to ride.

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