Army horses loose on London streets

"Apparently the army prefer non riders to train up as they won’t have developed their own style of riding. I won’t swear to that but it is what I was told."
Not necessarily - my friend's foster son went along to join the army and as soon as they discovered he could ride, he was allocated to the HC.

PamelaJ1 you are correct, it is easier to teach people to ride from scratch as opposed to getting riders to unlearn bad habits.

The ones that didn’t have saddles on were I think being ponied which is being led by a rider on another horse. Usually a young horse in training to get them used to different sights, sounds and smells.

Crossed posts MissInterpreted that is rather unusual, but good luck to him.

GrannyGravy13

Crossed posts MissInterpreted that is rather unusual, but good luck to him.

He's done very well for himself. Been in the army for well over 10 years now and loves it. It was the making of him.

MissInterpreted, thank you so much for your post about your friend’s foster son. We hear so often about the difficulties many who experienced the care system, it’s good to hear about those who make good lives. I’m still in touch with some, now in their 40’s. And early fifties / living well

MissInterpreted

I hope both the horses and riders will be ok. Army horses (and police horses too) are extremely well-trained, but I know from experience that even the most 'bombproof' horse can be spooked.

As an avid horse rider in my younger days I too know how easily even the best trained horses can be spooked. This was all quite horrific, those poor horses and I just hope they and members of the public are all ok.

Germanshepherdsmum

Thank you Dinahmo. All my charitable donations go to animals, and most are for the welfare of horses and donkeys - terribly abused throughout history and with no rights whatsoever in some parts of the world.

I sent my reply to the wrong person 🫣. Thank you I agree and do similar 🐕🐎🫏

PamelaJ1

The horses come up to Norfolk for their holidays. They are based near Thetford and get taken up to the coast for ‘swimming’.
They put on a display for the public at their holiday camp.
Apparently the army prefer non riders to train up as they won’t have developed their own style of riding. I won’t swear to that but it is what I was told.
Hope no one was badly hurt or even slightly injured.

We have been visiting Bodney Camp open days for years as my daughter and husband ride and it’s a great day out.

What you say PamelaJ1 is what we were told. They prefer non riders as they are easier to train from scratch than someone who may have picked up bad habits or who think they are competent riders when they really are not.

As riders enter the arena an Officer introduces them so it might be “This is Tom and just a few months ago was working in Tesco/ a butcher’s shop/ was a hairdresser.” It’s really interesting to learn of their backgrounds and watch what they can do in such a short time. You get a chance to talk to them afterwards. Their uniforms weigh a ton! You can buy bags of carrots to feed the horses but many have signs on their stables saying This horse bites. do not feed.” They bring their own canvas and wood stables and it is an impressive sight seeing row upon row of makeshift stables. Families come from all over the country to the open days to see what goes on and see them in full military uniform.

The horses are taken in lorries down to Holkham beach which is miles of golden sand. The soldiers are in their shorts and T shirts and it is the most fantastic sight. My friend lives on the Holkham Hall Estate so I can park up at hers. The horses absolutely love it and so do the public who are lucky enough to be there at the time.

Watching hundreds of horses gallop across the sands at the same time is awesome. One year they all set off and were thundering along but one young soldier refused and brought his horse back and he got the biggest telling off from an officer who sent him off in disgrace back to the lorries about a mile away. We all felt really embarrassed for the lad.

Am coming a bit late to this thread, but felt shocked to see the grey covered in blood.Hope that both humans and horses will be alright.

Wonderful descriptions Primrose 🥰 thank you for sharing!
It sounds fantastic.

It brought back memories of the bomb and poor Sefton making his way home to the barracks.

Deedaa

It brought back memories of the bomb and poor Sefton making his way home to the barracks.

Me too

I wonder what frightened these horses and how the grey was injured .

Horses are my great love .
But I know what a spooked horse feels like to ride .
Even the most beautifully and carefully broken in horses can bolt and you can't pull them back .
On Sunday , I passed the area where I nearly lost my life as a teenager .
Something frightened my horse and it charged straight into heavy traffic and I ended up smashed into a tree .
I was really fortunate to survive .

I hope that the riders and horses are
alright .
Perhaps , we'll read the full story tomorrow .

Primrose I have just decided to take my GS next this year.
My sisters friend’s son was riding at Bodney when we went. He’d never been on a horse before joining up. MissI perhaps our young men know each other.
I’ve not been to see them on the beach but will make a point of it this year.
Do they ride towards Wells or Hunstanton?

They use Holkham beach Pamela.

I have just heard on the news that the horses are ‘in a serious condition’. I hope they pull through.

Germanshepherdsmum

I have just heard on the news that the horses are ‘in a serious condition’. I hope they pull through.

I believe three are fine, two, Vida and Quaker are not so well.

That’s so sad, but not surprising, to hear two of the horses are in serious condition. I hope the riders are ok

The DM this morning has video of several cavalry horses prancing, throwing heads, clearly unsettled
Was it a windy day in
London? We’ve had awful fierce winds in the north west. Horses are always unsettled in those conditions

PamelaJ1

Primrose I have just decided to take my GS next this year.
My sisters friend’s son was riding at Bodney when we went. He’d never been on a horse before joining up. MissI perhaps our young men know each other.
I’ve not been to see them on the beach but will make a point of it this year.
Do they ride towards Wells or Hunstanton?

He will love it!

Actually it’s even amazing to watch them being unloaded from the lorries and then walking down the tarmac drive to the beach.

fb.watch/rFQ4Pg_aBH/

You will notice that they all ride bare back.

It's lovely to hear that the horses get some fun at the beach - they deserve it.
I couldn't believe what I saw on the television yesterday - the horses galloping away and one covered in blood. I've never come across such dreadful situation involving horses before. It must have been scary for the riders too - and those in the traffic!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jjs41i-0mRc
an officer explains, The Household Cavalry exercises 150 horses through the parks and roads of London to get them used to noise and sounds around them. ..............goes on to explain the condition of soldiers and horses.

By all accounts the horses and riders were passing a building site when a load of concrete rubble was dropped. Being Central London that was not going to be a small amount. So much building work going on there.

tanith

Several horses have somehow got loose and have caused several accidents one horse looks very bloody. I know they often transport horses to their training ground at the Scrubs in W. London in large horse boxes. I hope there aren’t any serious injuries. It looks like they’ve all been recaptured now.
I think someone is for the high jump!

Sadly two are seriously injured. news.sky.com/story/two-horses-which-bolted-through-central-london-in-a-serious-condition-13122508