AIBU Kings Guard horse bit tourist

Horses, I know well and at times I have suffered in the
process of learning, although I have not ridden for 20 yrs. In my experience they are more predictable than their owners, they take their chances as do grooms, farriers and other experienced people, crowd safety is a different issue and horse events keep the crowd separate, behind a barrier.

As for wild animals, the current fantasy with getting close to big cats, crocodiles and sharks is just madness, it’s not bravery it’s stupidity - they can kill you.

they are animals
when we went to Burghley Park there were families with small children approaching the deer, stags in particular
I was honestly astounded

there have been reports of people on safari getting killed by animals they are taking selfies with!

David49

Horse welfare is an entirely different topic, the issue is safety, we don’t want anyone to get injured, it’s not rocket science there should be a normal crowd barrier to keep spectators safe

How can horse welfare be ignored when on other threads we have posters screaming for the blood of someone on the evidence of a video of dubious quality of what could have been a rare moment of poor judgement on the part of that person. (and having viewed it again I think that the FEI might not take such an extreme view)

Yet the British Army subjects these horses every day to a stressful situation and posters ignore that in favour of oohing and aahing over 'tradition'

I don't have a problem in general with the mix of old and new, mounted police and mounted military exercises/ceremonial, in London but at least police horses and military horses 'on parade' are moving for much of the time and better able to avoid such stress.

David, how can you separate horse welfare from crowd safety

Horse welfare is an entirely different topic, the issue is safety, we don’t want anyone to get injured, it’s not rocket science there should be a normal crowd barrier to keep spectators safe

MaizieD

RosiesMaw2

Maybe an electric fence would do it?

Electric fences have to carry warning signs, which the tourists clearly don't read, and the army would still be liable for any injury caused by them.

I'm entirely with David, a squaddie in uniform would do the job just as well even though not as picturesque.

It appears that the horses are only there between 10 am & 4pm,, anyway, after which there are dismounted sentries. So basically, they are indeed just there for the tourists...

Tradition be damned. On another thread we have posters objecting to cruelty to horses (and more.). I think that expecting horses to stand motionless for an hour at a time while being teased and bothered by passers by is equally as cruel and demeaning to them.

After viewing extensive footage on youtube ( the things I do for Gnet😂) am with your views 100%.
I don’t think the practice is fair to either horses, guardsmen or tourists, the pavement outside Horse Guards is teeming with people.They really are only there for tourists, yet it’s unsafe for them and truly horrible for the guards and horses.
The real security, armed police have the more pleasant job of strolling around and checking all is safe and aren’t pestered.

I grew up in a garrison town, MOnica. I'll call them whatever I want to. I'm not denigrating them. It's just a label.

I'm also well acquainted with 'beautiful' horses and I think this particular use of them as a tourist attraction is obsolete and cruel to the horses. Maybe you couldn't see the signs of mental distress in that poor horse but I could. It isn't at all usual for horses to attack people.

Incidentally, I don't think a particularly high level of riding skills is required for the tasks the military horseman/woman is required to do these days.

Maizie, David The man/woman on the horse is a 'squaddie' - what a dismissive and demeaning term.

In other words the man/woman on the horse is a highly trained young person, who is still at a lower rank in the army, butt could, as the saying goes, 'have a Field Marshal's baton in their knapsack. He/her is also a skilled horseman.

I doubt that anyone on this site, including ex-service people will ever have been as physically fit, highly trained and such a skilled horseman as the person in that magnificent uniform on that beautiful horse and capable of dealing with all the aggravation they receive when on duty.

None have ever been known to trample down the tourists, or get them on the ground and kick them in the head.

RosiesMaw2

Maybe an electric fence would do it?

Electric fences have to carry warning signs, which the tourists clearly don't read, and the army would still be liable for any injury caused by them.

I'm entirely with David, a squaddie in uniform would do the job just as well even though not as picturesque.

It appears that the horses are only there between 10 am & 4pm,, anyway, after which there are dismounted sentries. So basically, they are indeed just there for the tourists...

Tradition be damned. On another thread we have posters objecting to cruelty to horses (and more.). I think that expecting horses to stand motionless for an hour at a time while being teased and bothered by passers by is equally as cruel and demeaning to them.

RosiesMaw2

Maybe an electric fence would do it?

Now that would make those Facebook reels a lot more entertaining. 😂

Maybe an electric fence would do it?

Agree MOnica - this isn’t Disney on the Thames and tourists should realise that.

Don't forget that under the uniforms and tradition are fully trained soldiers. Many with frontline experience. Were any serious problem to arise - a terrorist incident or a bomb, we would very quickly see the army in action.

Well said, Iam64.

David49, let’s not muddy the waters, we aren’t talking about a random dog bite. In any event that isn’t simple. If a person is bitten by a dog because there’s a dog fight, the police aren’t interested.

If you prod, poke, get in the face of a dog and it snaps, don’t you carry responsibility. My dogs insurance covers legal costs, I’m certain if one of my dogs had reacted after being treated as these horses (and their riders are) my insurers would defend any nonsense claim.

It isn’t “all just for show”. It’s a glorious continuation of some of our odd, eccentric and very `English traditions. Long May it continue. Paint a red line, use those scary armed police officers to get the crowds to keep a sensible, safe distance
Not everything is the responsibility of everyone else.

That would depend on the circumstances, would it not?

RosiesMaw2

^Guarding a military establishment can be done by any squaddie in uniform and nobody would bother. The horse and ceremonial uniform is deliberately inviting tourist attention, so it’s an activity that has to be done safely^

You just don’t get it David do you?
Centuries of Royal and military tradition cannot be reduced to mere tourist attractions and if that is how you view them I believe that is your loss as our society is richer and more colourful for the excellent way we “do” ceremonial, incidentally, with pride in the tradition not gawping tourists.

I do get it!, I support the tradition and ceremony, it is all just for show, and if you are doing that you have to protect the spectators, tourists or anyone else.

You just don’t accept that if your dog bites someone you are liable to compensate them, or do you think that you have no responsibility for the dog bite.

The mounted troops in uniform were therelong before the tourists. It just needs a policeman, and, as someone, up thread suggested a thick red line on the ground.

Why should we nanny people all the time a few pictographs, rather than signs in English showing that all tourists should keep at least 3 metres from the soldiers and horses and the police man stopping and admonishing anyone who oversteps the line.

Guarding a military establishment can be done by any squaddie in uniform and nobody would bother. The horse and ceremonial uniform is deliberately inviting tourist attention, so it’s an activity that has to be done safely

You just don’t get it David do you?
Centuries of Royal and military tradition cannot be reduced to mere tourist attractions and if that is how you view them I believe that is your loss as our society is richer and more colourful for the excellent way we “do” ceremonial, incidentally, with pride in the tradition not gawping tourists.

Serves her right.

M0nica

David49 These guardsmen are mounting gaurd outside government premises and their job is to intercept anyone trying to go past them into the buildings beyond.

They are exactly the same as the soldiers you will find guarding the entrance to any military establishment, or even the same as the ordinary security man stopping unauthorised people enterin all kinds of buildings. It is just in this case they are in a magnofocent uniform and mounted on a big horse.

The private security of the RF. is an entirely different matter. In the way that the special security measures that protect the Prime Minister are entirely different to a security man stopping you entering a building. The two cannot be compared.

Guarding a military establishment can be done by any squaddie in uniform and nobody would bother. The horse and ceremonial uniform is deliberately inviting tourist attention, so it’s an activity that has to be done safely.

Organizers have to take account that tourists may not behave rationally or sensibly, the principle is that your animal has caused harm, it could also be a dog or crocodile, you are liable if it bites someone.

She ignored the sign, no sympathy. These guards real life solders and horses are working not objects of voyeurism and photography for stupid tourists.

David49 These guardsmen are mounting gaurd outside government premises and their job is to intercept anyone trying to go past them into the buildings beyond.

They are exactly the same as the soldiers you will find guarding the entrance to any military establishment, or even the same as the ordinary security man stopping unauthorised people enterin all kinds of buildings. It is just in this case they are in a magnofocent uniform and mounted on a big horse.

The private security of the RF. is an entirely different matter. In the way that the special security measures that protect the Prime Minister are entirely different to a security man stopping you entering a building. The two cannot be compared.

Oreo

MissInterpreted

Oreo

Not many mounted hordes sweeping through Tokyo mind you or Mumbai.
City and town dwellers like myself know little about horses and probably think they’re really tame like a pet.
It wouldn’t hurt to consider keeping tourists well back from them.

I don't know much about crocodiles, but I wouldn't stand too close to one.

I wouldn’t stand too close or approach a horse either but it looks as if many tourists do this, sarcasm on this topic isn’t exactly helpful.

Helpful? Well, as they say, there ain't no cure for stupid.

Rosiesmaw - hot chocolate or camomile tea / good night 🐎🐴🎠