The sign said horses may bite. Ormonde made sure people believed it!

After 13 years with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, the horse who became an internet favourite for his unmistakable reactions to over-familiar tourists has retired to The Horse Trust.

For many people, those clips were their introduction to Ormonde: a magnificent black horse with a very clear opinion about personal space. Visitors might have wanted the perfect photograph, but he was never shy about letting them know when they had come too close.

Behind the viral moments was a working horse whose career included years of parades, ceremonies and daily duties. There was far more to his service than the few seconds caught on a tourist’s phone.

His encounters also carried a useful reminder: these are living, feeling animals. The warning signs deserve attention, the reins should be left alone, and a photograph should never come before a horse’s comfort.

Now the crowds and ceremonial duties give way to a quieter life, with time to settle into a well-earned retirement.

Thank you for your service, Ormonde — and for reminding the world that even a royal working horse needs his space.