Army horses loose on London streets

Presumably she didn’t want to be dismissed.

I heard that as well GSM and it was very upsetting. I also heard someone from the Army refute all Kate’s concerns but he didn’t give any detail about how they are kept, so not very convincing.

I’d like to hear that they get some turnout during the day but I think that highly unlikely in central London - no turnout is a completely unnatural life for a horse and should be seen as a welfare issue. If a dog was kept in a create 23 hours out of 24 people would be horrified and expect someone to be prosecuted - why do we allow horses, who have evolved to walk 20 or 30 miles in a day, every day, to be treated differently?

MayBee70

I’m sure there was a tv series following the household cavalry recently. Or maybe it was just part of a series which showed them getting ready for a state occasion.

There have been several documentaries about the Household Cavalry a series in 2019, there was a programme last year (2023) to name just two.

Why would she want to stay looking after animals which were
mistreated

People normally stay in a job until they find another one don’t they?

Perhaps because she loved them Anniebach and wanted to try to make their lives better, then found she couldn’t cope with it anymore? And is now trying to raise awareness in the hope of changing things for the better.

Who knows?

True nightowl who knows

I also have read about them not being treated well it’s certainly an unnatural life and to the poster who said sue the builders that’s utter nonsense they were just doing their daily job I don’t supposed they said ‘oh the horses are coming let’s all shoot the concrete out and spook them’ perhaps whoever is ‘exercising them ‘ if riding in London is exercise, should be more careful about their routes

BlueBelle

I also have read about them not being treated well it’s certainly an unnatural life and to the poster who said sue the builders that’s utter nonsense they were just doing their daily job I don’t supposed they said ‘oh the horses are coming let’s all shoot the concrete out and spook them’ perhaps whoever is ‘exercising them ‘ if riding in London is exercise, should be more careful about their routes

Surely it’s common sense to wait for horses to pass by before doing something which is likely to startle them?

The riders are as entitled to use their planned route as cyclists or pedestrians. They couldn’t have known what was about to take place or they would have asked to be allowed to pass by first.

Whatever’s happened to consideration?

merlotgran

BlueBelle

I also have read about them not being treated well it’s certainly an unnatural life and to the poster who said sue the builders that’s utter nonsense they were just doing their daily job I don’t supposed they said ‘oh the horses are coming let’s all shoot the concrete out and spook them’ perhaps whoever is ‘exercising them ‘ if riding in London is exercise, should be more careful about their routes

Surely it’s common sense to wait for horses to pass by before doing something which is likely to startle them?

The riders are as entitled to use their planned route as cyclists or pedestrians. They couldn’t have known what was about to take place or they would have asked to be allowed to pass by first.

Whatever’s happened to consideration?

Not in the same category but DH stopped to drop me off in the main street a couple of weeks ago and just up from there builders were at work up on scaffolding, renovating a small shop. Debris was being chucked down, aimed at a skip in the road (no chute) and they were just glancing to see if anyone was walking underneath before throwing down old window frames etc. And sometimes missing judging by the mess on the pavement.

Maybe she tried Anniebach - I speak as someone who tried to whistleblow on my employer whilst in employment and met with a brick wall. I couldn’t afford to just leave my job without another to go to.

Sorry Anniebach I think I’m replying to one of your earlier posts, trying to multitask here and it’s not working

But how do you know the builders even saw them coming merlotgran they could have been in a different part of the yard, machines whirring, heads down getting on with their daily work. I ve no idea and nor have you They may have been negligent but they also may not have been
Are the horses always exercised daily in these main roads ? Sounds awful

She blew the whistle a while back - it’s only just now being given some prominence.

No problem nightowl I can understand waiting but still withholding her name several months later

I don't think that you are allowed to gallop horses all over Hyde Park. Or any other of the London Parks.

Well that's a shame, but surely Buckingham Palace has a few acres they could spare.

My 'speculation' is not uninformed; I've had horses for years.
Yes, I know, I don't think it was aimed at you.

I would like an unbiased review of how the 250 horses are kept before I jump to any conclusions.

The stables are on two floors with heated slopes so that they do not ice up in winter.

There is stabling for 273 horses, but usually only 250 are kept there at any one time.

BlueBelle

But how do you know the builders even saw them coming merlotgran they could have been in a different part of the yard, machines whirring, heads down getting on with their daily work. I ve no idea and nor have you They may have been negligent but they also may not have been
Are the horses always exercised daily in these main roads ? Sounds awful

What yard, Bluebelle?

The footage I’ve seen shows a lorry parked at the side of the road with rubble descending noisily down a chute - at intervals. The horses would have had to move into the centre of the road to pass it. The lead rider would have presumably indicated to traffic that they were about to do that when the sudden unexpected noise startled the horses.

It doesn’t look as though there are any builders monitoring the situation.

Having looked at the stables on YouTube (filmed long before this incident) it does appear they are kept in very narrow stalls so it’s difficult to see how they would be able to lie down or turn around. I’d still like to know if they have any turnout area.

It’s sad if that really the only exercise they get in a day. Standing in stalls all day is also not good.

We only have one horse now but she is quite happy on her own. Has two huge field shelters to go in if it’s too cold or too hot and a couple of acres to roam around in. We fence parts off while the new grass is coming through. She is checked on and fed and watered twice a day, groomed once a week and gets plenty of fuss. She is a pampered old lady now and is barefoot now but gets regular foot trims by farrier.

GrannyGravy13

MaizieD

P.S I'd be slightly happier if someone could tell me that the horses are kept in loose boxes. They can at least move around freely in a loose box. They can't in a stall.

In a field they are on the move, grazing, for a large part of the day.

I thought they were in loose boxes.

They are exercised early mornings along Rotten Row

I am sure that there were several automated horse walkers at the barracks/stables.

I am not entirely sure that the reports of them being in their stalls 23 hours a day are correct. Especially when you factor in grooming, tacking up, indoor arena training and riding out.

From vagansrock's post

Heard an ex cavalry officer on the radio saying these horses are in their stalls for 23 hours a day and only get a 6 week break a year.

I don't think that grooming and tacking up really counts as any form of exercise. Arena work, yes, but I wonder if 250 horses would have one hour's road work daily plus work in the arena?

But, speculation....

I heard a royal commentator (didn't get his name) on the Jeremy Vine radio show today. The discussion was about the run away horses. He was waffling on about the UK's wonderful traditional regiments and declared that horses are filled with pride to be part of such esteemed traditions.

Now, I don't know much about horses but I find it hard to believe that horses are actually filled with pride to serve in the army.

Serves me right for listening to Jeremy Vine I suppose.

How daft

Rising to the occasion would have been a better way of putting it.

merlotgran I know nothing more than anyone else but if it’s a working area with traffic, people, and workmen is it the right place for horses to be exercised or even walked out you really can’t expect the city to stop work to let the horses through every day
It’s very very sad but I can’t see how you can blame workman who were probably doing what they were there to do and did every day It seems no one particular was at fault it was one of these horrible things that happened