The BBC's John McIntyre reports from Hyde Park Barracks

Lance Corporal Paul Salmon, aged 26, appeared with Reaveley, an 11-year-old horse, for the first time since the mount sent him flying while escorting the Queen and German President Roman Herzog to Windsor Castle, on Tuesday.

Nursing a cracked shoulder and bruises at Hyde Park Barracks, Lance Corporal Salmon was forgiving of the horse.

Crowds gasped as Reaveley fell, leaving his rider injured

He said: "Horses are like people, you do not know how they are going to behave and it just wasn't his day."

The trooper, from Whitehaven, Cumbria, is on two weeks sick leave to recover.

The lance corporal relived the drama of the moment he found his out-of-control mount backing towards the Queen's carriage.

"I tried to kick him on but he wouldn't wear it, it was not his day," the trooper said.

"I looked around and I saw the back end of the Queen's carriage as she went by and I think Reaveley clipped the back wheel."

As Reaveley backed up and hit crash barriers protecting the crowd, the lance corporal fought to control him.

But moments later he found himself on the ground.

"As I hit the ground it all went blank," he said. "Reaveley actually landed on me."

Lance Corporal Paul Salmon: "One of those things I suppose"

The trooper said he had also had the ribbing of his friends to contend with.

"I'm a slightly big chap and it happened close to McDonald's. They wanted to know if I was stopping off to get a snack," he said.

Lance Corporal Salmon had previously served in Bosnia. He told the BBC's One O'Clock News: "It's one of those things I suppose. You can survive in Bosnia and then come out and do a normal escort at Windsor and end up having a horse sit on top of you and breaking your shoulder."

Queen checked on progress

The Queen has been keeping a check on the progress of horse and rider, with aides telephoning the hospital for regular updates.

Lance Corporal Salmon's dented breastplate after the accident

German President Herzog has also written to the lance corporal expressing his sympathy and wishing him well.

Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Colonel Harry Scott, said it would be Reaveley's last outing at such an event.

The gelding will continue to stand guard at Horse Guards Parade but will be excused at such ceremonial duties.