AIBU Kings Guard horse bit tourist

winterwhite

Monica is right that barriers wouldn't do for the reasons she gives.. A broad red line painted on the pavement in front of them with Stop written on it might do the trick. I had no idea this happened.

No, in a crowd situation it would not be seen, or not understood.

Deserved her bite. No doubt she will try to claim comp!

Swim/surf with the sharks, expect to be bitten...same thing.

These vids appear with monotonous regularity on FB videos and I am beginning to wonder to what extent they are manufactured/photoshopped.
Tourists with more eye to a photograph than sense should learn though that a guardsman on a horse is as much a fighting soldier as a man in a tank and show some respect.

Basic common sense seems to vanish in the pursuit of selfies and the perfect photos to post on social media. While she’s nursing her bite she can revel in the glory of the clip of her stupidity going viral on YouTube.

I was thinking of an area around the horses shown by paint on the ground, rather like the way distances were designated during the awful pandemic. We all quickly understood that and followed instructions. There are armed police around to reinforce this new approach
These are powerful, sensitive, flight animals, not Disney characters to be prodded and poked. They’re well trained, as are their riders but they’re real life working animals who don’t need teasing poking and stressing by people who are ignorant of their work role, or their needs.

flappergirl

keepingquiet

A while ago I was slightly addicted to these videos. Then I realised the horses were also being videoed as were the tourists pretty much most of the time. So I stopped watching.

Sorry keepingquiet, I don't understand. You were addicted to videos of tourists and the horse guards until you realised that both were being filmed?

Anyway, serves the tourist right. I hope it hurt.

I think I was trying to say, sorry if it wasn't clear, that the people taking the videos are also to be blamed. I think tourists now deliberately get close to the horses because they know they will be filmed and appear on youtube! So the people taking the videos (not tourists I may add but professionals with their channels directed at this very thing) should stop it, or somehow be made to stop as they are just as culpable. It has almost become an industry of its own. That is why I no longer watch them. Horses being used for entertainment? It's wrong.

Good point keeping quiet

Having experience the way crowds of tourists behave first hand 6 weeks ago, their enthusiasm to get a selfie is dangerous around a horse.
Shouting, waving arms, jumping up, the horse really needs to behind a barrier and sufficient supervision provided, the tourist would not have the ultimate “experience” but would be safe.

I’ve done a lot of HSE risk assessments, if the risk is serious injury you eliminate the risk - a barrier in this case. Joe public is ignorant of risk, horses are unpredictable as Princess Anne found out. Can you imagine a bite on the face from a horse it would be permanent disfigurement and result in a big insurance claim.

RosiesMaw2

These vids appear with monotonous regularity on FB videos and I am beginning to wonder to what extent they are manufactured/photoshopped.
Tourists with more eye to a photograph than sense should learn though that a guardsman on a horse is as much a fighting soldier as a man in a tank and show some respect.

I agree, although I don't agree with posters who were glad she was bitten, the woman was hurt and she fainted. She does need to take personal responsibility though.

David49

Having experience the way crowds of tourists behave first hand 6 weeks ago, their enthusiasm to get a selfie is dangerous around a horse.
Shouting, waving arms, jumping up, the horse really needs to behind a barrier and sufficient supervision provided, the tourist would not have the ultimate “experience” but would be safe.

I’ve done a lot of HSE risk assessments, if the risk is serious injury you eliminate the risk - a barrier in this case. Joe public is ignorant of risk, horses are unpredictable as Princess Anne found out. Can you imagine a bite on the face from a horse it would be permanent disfigurement and result in a big insurance claim.

I agree that tourists are often ignorant and uncontrollable which is not good around horses. I sometimes wonder if they tease the horses just for their online profile, after all these idiots will do anything for attention. A Chinese woman has just died doing an 10 hour eating session online, so there is no limit to the craziness of people's behaviour.

If a rope or markings on the ground are not sufficient then the horses will just have to be fenced off. Such a shame but sooner or later someone will get badly hurt if this continues. I remember when Downing Street was open to the public and you could walk along the road and stand outside No 10. Things change and maybe it's time to protect those lovely horses.

Some of these tourists are disgusting. I’ve seen many videos where they go out of their way to provoke the guards. Even when they’re shouted at they still carry on pulling silly faces and grinning inanely. It’s one thing to want a picture near them but to deliberately provoke to get a reaction should be an offense.

Some people are downright thoughtless and ignorant and think they're doing wonders by showing off. I think the guards on horseback are amazing keeping still for so long. Perhaps it's time to have them within the compound rather than on a bustling street so neither side gets hurt

Grannynannywanny

Basic common sense seems to vanish in the pursuit of selfies and the perfect photos to post on social media. While she’s nursing her bite she can revel in the glory of the clip of her stupidity going viral on YouTube.

I think it's safe to say that the internet with its social media sites and its "influencers" has accentuated that part of human nature which demands attention and recognition.

People have died posing for selfies in unusual and dangerous locations. For what? A fleeting moment of fame on YT or TikTok or to impress friends.

The need for 'notoriety' - even if only for a few seconds - meets the instinct for self-preservation, and for some, common sense isn't the deciding factor as to which takes precedence!

But I do wish people would stop regarding animals as props and recognise that they respond differently to stimuli. You cannot suddenly encroach on an animal's 'space' - any animal - it doesn't understand that you want your few seconds of 'fame'.

I was on the platform on the Metro in Paris when a tourist stopped a police officer for directions and started larking around when he didn't understand the officer's reply. The officer warned him, the tourist took no notice and the officer pointedly reached for his gun.

The tourist stopped messing around.

In some countries, if a tourist taunted a soldier on horseback, they would get short shrift.

She and others should show respect, they are asked not to go by them, she did so cant complain..

Shouting, waving arms, jumping up, the horse really needs to behind a barrier and sufficient supervision provided, the tourist would not have the ultimate “experience” but would be safe

I could not disagree more.
The soldiers guarding Buckingham Palace, or Horseguards do not need supervision nor are tourists entitled to the “ultimate experience”

The onus is on the tourist- not the mounted soldier. .

nor are tourists entitled to the “ultimate experience”

Well, there was certainly one tourist in that video who got the 'ultimate experience'😁

I so agree RosiesMaw ,

Iam64

I was thinking of an area around the horses shown by paint on the ground, rather like the way distances were designated during the awful pandemic. We all quickly understood that and followed instructions. There are armed police around to reinforce this new approach
These are powerful, sensitive, flight animals, not Disney characters to be prodded and poked. They’re well trained, as are their riders but they’re real life working animals who don’t need teasing poking and stressing by people who are ignorant of their work role, or their needs.

Great idea.

Whilst I agree that the actions of the tourist were potentially foolish, everyone calling her disgusting, disrespectful, thoughtless, ignorant and so on is ignoring the possibility that she might not have been able to read the notice, which was in English only.

Maybe a more visual one, such as a 'stop' sign with a picture of a horse being touched crossed out would be more helpful?

I've seen umpteen clips of these magnificent horses. Approach carefully, let the horse know you're there. Common sense. This woman was foolish and got what she deserved. No sympathy from me.

There are some heartwarming clips of children with special needs wanting a photo. The soldier will position the horse closer to the child so they can get a better photo.

There's also a beautiful one where a woman approaches the horse , he bows his head and she rests her head on him. I'm assuming the horse is male for some reason.

I'm unable to post the YouTube video of it but it is easily found

I don't see what "security" the guards are providing, they seem more at risk of being abused/threatened than a deterrent. If the mounted guards need assistance or spot a potential problem they have to press an alarm on the wall and the armed police come to investigate.

MaizieD

^nor are tourists entitled to the “ultimate experience”^

Well, there was certainly one tourist in that video who got the 'ultimate experience'😁

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

let's remember some of these troopers are women.
some posters are referring to men/guardsmen etc.

Horses are unpredictable creatures - even the well trained ones !!!! and need treating with respect. Nobody's fault but her own !