THERE’S a quiet dignity about old horses that makes time spent in their company a genuinely emotional experience.
Nowhere does that feel truer than at a remarkable sanctuary in the Chiltern Hills which is home to dozens of retired horses, ponies and donkeys, some of which have led the most extraordinary lives.
Maybe it’s the wisdom in those kind old eyes, or the fact that many of these sturdy gentle beasts have spent a lifetime of service in the military or mounted police coping with the most challenging of situations.
From the pomp and pageantry of royal parades to the noise and chaos of riots and protests, these brave animals have witnessed the best and worst of human behaviour over the years.
Here at The Horse Trust, in the most serene of surroundings, they can live out their lives in peace, bothered only by a stream of respectful afternoon visitors only too happy to spend a few minutes in their calming company.
The main stable block at Speen near Princes Risborough offers a ranch-like focal point at the heart of the 200-acre farm, set amid rolling countryside with fields grazed by tiny Shetland ponies and braying donkeys.
In the main courtyard area guests meander from door to door seeing who’s in the mood for a nuzzle or head scratch. Even if you’re not a dyed-in-the-wool horse lover, this is surprisingly therapeutic.
Old horses have a remarkable way of calming people just by their presence and many visitors to the trust have spoken of the extraordinary feeling of peacefulness they experience here, the steady breathing and slow munching providing a perfect balm to the hectic stresses of modern life.
But perhaps that’s no surprise given that the bond between horses and humans dates back thousands of years, a partnership forged through trade and transport, agriculture and war.
And here, many equine CVs are impressive, speaking of animals which have served with distinction in the mounted police or at royal ceremonial events – horses like Knightsbridge (above), a 22-year-old grey gelding from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment standing 17.7 hands tall.
As a ceremonial trumpeter, he participated in both royal weddings, the Queen’s diamond and platinum jubilees, and the King’s coronation.
Nowadays his routine is a little more sedate, relaxing alongside other old colleagues in the Chilterns countryside like Incognito (below), one of a number of Cavalry Blacks retired here after a lifetime of loyal service.
There are more than 100 retired horses here, from the police horses which served at football matches and demonstrations to numerous long-term residents of the Royal Mews and long-suffering rescue horses which suffered cruelty and ill treatment at the hands of their owners.
There are also a number of sweet-natured smaller working horses who spent years enriching people’s lives with the Riding for the Disabled Association.
But then this is the world’s oldest equine charity, founded in 1886 by Ann Lindo as a home of rest for horses after she was inspired by Anna Sewell’s novel Black Beauty, a ground-breaking ‘autobiography’ told through the eyes of a working horse.
Life for London’s army of working horses was little fun at the tail end of the 19th century, with thousands of them pulling taxi cabs and delivery wagons until they dropped.
Realising that most of the suffering was the result of poverty rather than cruelty, Miss Lindo’s idea was to provide a place where sick and exhausted horses could rest and recover – lending in their place healthy animals so the owners could still earn a living. Months later, the owner’s original horse would be returned to them, refreshed and ready to return to work.
The idea caught on, and although Miss Lindo passed away just five years later, the trust would go on to attract influential patrons and flourished in a variety of locations before moving to Speen Farm in 1971.
It had been opening to the public since 1909, served as a horse hospital during the war and in 1982 welcomed a trio of horses which survived the IRA Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings that killed eleven soldiers and seven army horses.
Another gruelling milestone came in 2008 when RSPCA inspectors and police officers attended Spindles Farm in Amersham and uncovered one of the worst cases of animal cruelty the UK has ever seen, with more than 100 horses, ponies and donkeys in the most horrific conditions.
As part of the large-scale rescue operation mounted by animal welfare charities from across the country, The Horse Trust gave sanctuary to 14 of the sickest animals.Â
Flash forward to 2026 and the trust is a happy and peaceful place where painful memories of such past horrors are quickly banished, though families spending an afternoon in the company of such peaceful and perceptive animals can’t fail to be moved by their presence, or their bravery.
The trust performs an education and training role too, as well as providing an unusual wedding venue for parties hiring out the farm’s historic Grade II-listed tithe barn.
Casual visitors can expect more modest catering in the on-site cafe and a low-key but pleasurably mellow experience.
Each horse has an intriguing story to tell, and although not all are on public display at any one time, a selection of residents are on hand to spend some quiet moments with guests.
Visitors are charged by the car and well-behaved dogs are welcome. There’s even a scenic walkway that takes you on a peaceful stroll into some of the fields to see some more of the residents grazing.
Compared to many modern visitor attractions, this is a simple and understated delight, but none the worse for that – and horse-mad teenagers will find themselves in seventh heaven.
The Horse Trust is open on Thursday to Sunday afternoons and on bank holidays. Check the website for details.
