Shame of Cavalry troops

An investigation has been launched into a string of allegations against soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment - including claims that they got a horse drunk on strong lager.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed it is looking into reports that members of the regiment - the most senior in the British Army - were also high on drugs during Trooping the Colour, stole from shows where they performed and subjected new recruits to degrading initiation ceremonies.

The accusations are the latest embarrassment for the regiment, which has the unique privilege of carrying out ceremonial duties on state and royal occasions. A report last week claimed five guardsmen filmed themselves in an orgy with a girl in army quarters.

Today's allegations in The Sun have been made by a cavalryman of more than five years' service. He claimed that before one parade in Zurich, a gelding called Unknown was given eight cans of lager to drink "shotgun fashion", in which the can is shaken up and sprayed into its mouth. The soldier said: "Unknown managed to perform all right but as he got back to the stables he collapsed. It was quite a common thing to get the horses pissed. The idea was that they'd throw the rider. But it really upset me. They are such loyal and obedient creatures, they didn't deserve it."

He claimed horse manure was thrown over a naked recruit

strapped to a fence, followed by a bucket of horse food. A horse would then be encouraged to eat off the recruit, leaving him covered with cuts and scratches.

The soldier also claimed troops stole riding equipment during shows. He said: "A diversion would often be arranged to distract security. Then the boys would steam in and clear between ?5,000 and ?10,000 of kit." The soldier added: "Quite a few blokes were high during Trooping the Colour as well as a couple of state visits."

It was also claimed women were taken back to barracks stables. On one occasion a trooper is said to have smuggled two prostitutes into a Norwegian police station - where horses were being kept - and had sex on an inspector's desk. An MoD spokesman said: "We take these allegations extremely seriously and would encourage anyone with any additional evidence that might be relevant to the investigation to come forward."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "If it is true that army horses are being fed high levels of alcohol, the RSPCA would utterly condemn such actions as irresponsible and dangerous."