July 25, 2023

Churchill and Horses

All his life Winston Churchill loved horses. He saw action as a cavalry officer in the late Victorian Era, enthusiastically played polo until well into middle age, and became an owner and breeder of racehorses during his retirement. Katherine Carter, the Collections Manager at Chartwell, recently sat down with Brough Scott, the popular horse racing broadcaster and former jockey, to discuss Churchill’s lifelong love affair with horses. To watch the video, please CLICK HERE.

Scott is author of Churchill at the Gallup (2017) and has twice spoken at conferences of the International Churchill Society. One of the most remarkable things he has identified is just what skills Churchill must have mastered in order to be able to participate in the famous cavalry charge at Omdurman in 1898. In his conversation with Katherine Carter, he explains the combination of movements that Churchill would have had to make with his sword and revolver while maintaining control of his horse during a charge in the face of a hostile enemy. Don’t try it at home!

The Chartwell Chats series is a joint project between the International Churchill Society–United Kingdom (ICS-UK) and the National Trust (NT). Costs for each episode are evenly divided between the two non-profit organizations. If you are interested in helping to sponsor the series, please contact ICS-UK Executive Director Andy Smith here.