GOLDEN HORSES
This summer, the streets of Luton were introduced to something golden not new, but renewed.
As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and creative reuse, we’ve been working on a special project funded through the Green Futures Fund: the revival of the Golden Horses.
These sculptural horses, once at risk of being forgotten, have been reclaimed, reimagined, and rebuilt and are now back in the spotlight, carrying a message that blends beauty with environmental responsibility.
Rather than create new floats from scratch, we saw an opportunity to build on what already existed. The Golden Horses had long been part of the local cultural memory but were in disrepair and in need of both restoration and purpose.
With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, the decision was simple: reuse the horses as the starting point for a new kind of carnival float one that looks forward without wasting what came before.
Reinvention through Reuse
Working with a team of artists, young creatives, and volunteers, we set out to transform the horses using as many recycled and donated materials as possible.
The structural base was rebuilt with donated shopping trolleys, cleverly adapted to allow the horses to be manoeuvred smoothly through the streets turning them into fully mobile float bases.
From broken parts and salvaged frames to reused fabric and upcycled decoration, every element added to the horses was chosen with care both for its impact and its footprint.
This wasn’t just a restoration. It was a transformation grounded in community energy, creative thinking, and our shared vision for a greener future.
In the weeks leading up to this year’s carnival, the newly revived Golden Horses were put on public display at Luton Point, giving the community a first look at what’s to come.
The installation served not just as an artistic showcase, but as a statement of values: that our celebrations can be joyful, responsible, bold and sustainable.
The public response was powerful people paused, photographed, asked questions, and shared memories. It became clear that these horses had a story to tell one that still resonates.
Looking Ahead: A Moving Future
The Golden Horses are not finished. They are evolving.
With their new mobility, these figures will form the foundation of fully sustainable moving floats in future carnivals. Around them, we plan to build additional costumes, props, and decorative pieces all made from donated, reused, and recycled materials.
Each year, the project will grow not by replacing, but by adding, layering, and reworking. The Golden Horses will become symbols not only of sustainability, but of endurance, creativity, and circular design.
Thank You
We want to thank everyone who contributed materials, time, energy, or ideas to this project and to the Green Futures Fund for making it possible.
The Golden Horses now stand not only as works of art, but as a reflection of everything we believe:
That sustainability can be spectacular
That reuse is a powerful tool
And that the past has a place in our shared future
Stay tuned; this is only the beginning.