Equestrian

Military equestrian community pays tribute to King's Troop soldier after horse show death

28th May 2026 at 1:11pm

Military riders honour King's Troop soldier Ciara Sullivan

The military equestrian community has paid tribute to Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery soldier who died after falling from her horse following a display at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Competitors and officials from the Army, Royal Navy, RAF and British Police gathered for a simple act of remembrance, with The Last Post performed by musician Adam Finch of the Honourable Artillery Company.

The tribute was led by Major Fran Sykes, Operations Manager for Army Equine, who had worked alongside LBdr Sullivan at King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Major Sykes said LBdr Sullivan was "a really professional equestrian" who "absolutely loved horses" and had ridden and competed throughout her life.

She said: "When I was at the King's Troop with her, she was always the first volunteer for any of the troop teams to come and compete at fixtures like this."

Lance Bombardier Ciara Harrison in ceremonial dress on a horse portrait CREDIT MOD — Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan was described as an "immensely professional soldier and an exceptional jockey" by her commanding officer (Picture: MOD)

LBdr Sullivan had previously competed at the Army championships, Windsor and other military fixtures.

Major Sykes said the community wanted to mark the loss together because the accident was still so recent.

She said: "We thought it was only appropriate that we took a moment as an equestrian community just to pause and pay our respects."

LBdr Sullivan died on 15 May at the age of 24.

280526 Remembering LBdr Sullivan at Army Equestrian Championships CREDIT BFBS FORCES NEWS — The equestrian military community paid their respect to LBdr Sullivan at the Army Equestrian Championships in Leicester (Picture: MOD)

LBdr Sullivan joined the Army in November 2020 before joining King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in June 2021.

She had taken part in Royal Gun Salutes in Hyde Park and Green Park, deployed on Operation Bridge for the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and on Operation Golden Orb for the coronation of the King and Queen.

She had recently qualified as an Advanced Regimental Riding Instructor and had enjoyed training military working and preparing mounted gunners for ceremonial duties, as well as developing young horses.

Her death has been felt across the military equestrian family, with those gathered paying tribute to the loss of one of their own.