Trooping the colour. I have horse questions.

[Tock]

I have no hose knowledge aside from what I have learned from Jilly Cooper.

why do they nod their heads up and down so violently?

how do you ride with no hands like the band?

do they get to choose the colour of their horse? I’d like a grey one but there aren’t many of those.

what happens if they are really bad? Is there an understudy?

Yes it will. Some people do have amazing abilities (and I am not talking the Horse Whisperer) just people with an intuition and they go about it quietly and just know what to do or say.

I suppose also people can heal in the right hooves.

Ah no @DrawSwords "That is not the default position and unsuitable horses are put to sleep. Honestly, I have said my farewells to a few in the past."
This is really sad!
Do you think that's what happened to the one who bolted at the royal wedding?

I agree. At the other end, some people are absolute shits, and they can be solvent, (arguably) talented and certainly knowledgable, but be absolute bastards to the horses who have given them their name and reputation. That makes me sick.... Personally, I like myself more, and am much better person when around horses, and that loops into the horses being calmer and feeling better.
But I do also believe that we should not put big expectations on animals, or even hinge our own self-worth on them.... It is not their obligation to make us feel better, or worthwhile, even though they do... It is not their raison d'etre, even though its a happy by-product 💕

A friend's daughter is one of the people on the horses and from all that I've heard those horses are treated like they're royalty themselves.

Spuds for breakfast- The bearskin hats are now all synthetic- the old bearskins weighed a ton, these ones are more lightweight.

No, not necessarily. Horses and troopers mess up. It's what happens but is the exception not the norm. It will get further training and a different rider perhaps and if still not suitable it may be taken off duties, but there may be some way to go yet.

Very wise words.

Thank you for adding to my horse knowledge.

They go to Norfolk and get to go on the beaches & in the sea.
I've always wanted to see them cantering along the sands and in the sea .... one day.

Pts is an extreme last resort. The type that is bred for cavalry use is hugely sought after and frankly stupid money nowadays. Prices have shot up since Covid.

A lot of Irish Draught types are used, big, plenty of bone (strong legs), often quite steady types, although they’re animals and can inevitably have moments.

Re stabling them, it’s what they grow up doing once they’re backed. Mine had never been in a stable when I bought him, he was 5. Because he could see me from his field, he would stand at the gate, wanting to come in. If in the far field, he’d come to call. He’d be hanging round the gate at catch in time. They’re like dogs, they like a routine. I couldn’t use a stick (crop) on him, tried it once to back up my leg, needed a solid wall to stop him.

I would love a retired drumhorse, I love those types. I enjoy the grooming!

@LoveMyPiano

Thanks for the documentary recommendation, I'll try and find that and watch it.

It's only since the horse (I call him mine for ease - long story but he's not) I have been alongside for many years became unable to be ridden with arthritis and turning him out 24/7 is the best thing for him, with another retired horse and seen the change in him that I have really questioned it, he only wears a head collar now for farrier or vet, he'll wander over and see me on his terms and then wander off again, but usually stays fairly close to where I am. He's relaxed and happy and as healthy as can be expected for a horse of his age with his conditions. He has to be restricted in spring as he is prone to laminitis but I use the winter field so he has as much as possible and strip graze into the summer turn out for more grass, and he has a field shelter and a rug in really bad weather.

He's far less dependent on me, and I have struggled with that, but it's better for him, he's a horse now and he owes me nothing, I owe him a debt I can never repay though. I'll continue to see him every day and give freely what he needs from me until that decision needs to be made - or it happens naturally, I won't keep him going just because I can't bare to lose him, and I won't let him suffer.

He's a different horse - but - he's there for his net every day in winter and as I said above, chooses to be near me when he has a whole field and a companion to be near, so there must be some advantages to me existing from his point of view! I just wish I'd come to this realisation and been able to give him this a lot sooner. I was a decent rider but I think I've always just liked being in a horse's company, and I don't miss riding as much as I thought I would, I get more pleasure from sitting in the field reading a book with him grazing nearby. I think I've gone back to that horse mad little girl that just loved being near such a wonderful animal and I'm glad.

@Plantstrees I don't suppose it is an easy life as you put it, but any intervention is not what a herd in the wild truly faces, and my point was that there are some advantages to the horse from being domesticated and their relationship with humans, although not as many as there are for humans.

@UrsulaPandress
Ain't that just the truth!

@DrawSwords
Can I ask why unsuitable horses would be PTS rather than an attempt made to re-home? Is it do do with their training that wouldn't make them suitable for an average person to deal with? I can understand if they have behaviour issues or could potentially be dangerous and I do believe that there's fates far worse for horses than being PTS, but it does seem odd that such well trained horses, (who even if they don't make the grade for army activities, I would think would be better trained and schooled than the average riding horse) would be PTS than re-homed.

@Maverickess Ah, what a lovely way to be now. He sounds as happy as he can be, and yes, sometimes, and for some of us, being near them, around them, taking the very best care and letting them be a horse as much as is possible is what gives them a nice life, and us the satisfaction of proving that for them. Riding is not, and never has been for me, the beginning, middle and end ot it all. I took the BHS exams, and much peferred the Stable Management elements.

If you were anything like I was was (and my best childhood friend), you probably named the horses you didn't even know, drew their pictures for Artand get into trouble for your English essays at school, due to the limited subject matter. In my mind I was always Dora (Follyfoot); I even got her haircut.

Your horse is very lucky to have you taking care of him.

If you do watch Earthlings, please please be warned that it is not easy viewing.

It must be lovely to see them in person 😍

We were 60 plus miles from the coast - loaded up my lovely boy into the lorry (he didn'tt mind travelling - but oh no, never a trailer!) and off we went. The visions I had of cantering through the surf did not come to fruition when he was such a big baby at the sight of the water moving on the sand (tide was out, and very long beach on the east coast) and minced along as through something was going to pop out and chase him. Never had more than one foot on the ground. It was hilarious, and NOTHING like a Lloyds Bank ad, that's for sure.

I believe Stella McCartney helped to design a synthetic alternative but it was refused. Each hat is made from one dead bear. How many dead bears were paraded to celebrate the Jubilee today? In a world where species are going extinct every day, it is shameful.

I feel sad for the Calvary horses. They are so beautiful. However, my ex-h and OW decided to adopt some to retire. Made a big old thing about it publicly. However these horses are not easy to look after, they often have medical conditions and need expensive ongoing medication. So they just turned them out and starved them to death. RSPCA were shit and many people who witnessed the neglect contacted the Household Calvary vets who reassured they retired horses appropriately. Yet they don't. Once they are not good enough for service they just want rid. What happens to them after is of no concern. I'm not horsey at all but my heart broke for these beautiful (also huge) creatures. I am shocked that people are allowed to adopt them on a whim.

I went to an exhibition at the Army Museum about the real WW1 warhorses. The things I remember with a shudder is the farriers axes.I noticed one of the guards was carrying an axe but am assuming it was ceremonial.

That's so terrible! I guess there must be "some" reason they haven't made the grade, and if they come along with illnesses then provision should be made, and certainly follow-ups and checks. But I am quite alarmed by how those that are unsuitable are treated, and yet, thankful that @DrawSwords has cast a light into that particular dark corner.

That is interesting that you feel differently about riding. I find horses really beautiful creatures, but tend to feel that riding them would be imposing my self on them, and generally I prefer to co-exist with animals, give them a little help, but leave them to live their natural lives. I suppose the downside of life for wild horses was danger and insecurity, but I think they must still have some ancient instincts - like travelling together to find water and food, and I wonder if their life in captivity doesn't allow them to express those instincts. I really hate seeing horses used in riot control. I suppose I just question the right of humans to use animals how we want, when we don't really know what they feel and want.

Bless you.

Trophy hunters make a profit, and they are allowed to kill mother bears.

Yes, I am more inclined to agree with your point of view now, about imposition on them and how we prevent them from instinctive horse behaviours. BUT, they do have such a long-standing relationship with us, that is hard to backpedal now, and allow them freedom to just be what horses want to be; that would be impossible in our modern world, where they are now certainly less likely to be working/"useful" in the same way their ancestors did.

One thing about them is that they do not have extremely expressive faces - smiling, frowning, whatever, so may appear to impassive and tolerant. But of course, their body language and behaviour will speak volumes, if we watch and listen. Which circles back to the initial question at the start of this thread, and why the horses were nodding and shaking their heads. They really do put up with such a lot, and that is what makes them wonderful, but begs the question of if we should be asking so much of them in the first place? 💕

Being an army brat (RA), I was fortunate to be taught to ride by the saddle club when I was a child.

We rode and jumped bareback, without stirrups, learnt to balance by standing.
One of our stables received ex Kings troop horses and they were a dream to ride, they were treated amazingly. One reason I have stayed away from horses as an adult is that so many I've come into contact with are not kept in the same high standards.
The horses were turned out when the weather was fine, they had blankets when it was not great and a clean stable for poor weather and overnighting.
They were groomed daily, checked over for injuries and had an experienced soldier in charge of their wellbeing with access to veterinary treatment when needed.
The first bandage I learnt to apply was on a horse.
We lived in different places and whether you took them to a river or a beach, the instinct was to roll. God help us if we let them when they were tacked up.
Light hands, strong legs, heals down, sit up straight, still hands.

I was very impressed by the riding today, those horses must have been wired, but the lightness of touch was obvious, firm but kind.

Those horses are treated much better than many outside the military.

@LoveMyPiano I can tell you have a deep understanding and compassion for these animals. I expect there is no going back to wildness, they have been domesticated so long and lost their habitats. Yes, the initial question was regarding their physical behaviour, and it seems possible they felt under stress. I don't think we should ask so much of them, but it's really reading yours and other comments that lead me to feel quite certain about it, as I don't know a lot about horses. It was an instinctive feeling of mine, but I now feel it is correct. I have family and friends who love their horses and ride them, and I couldn't be judgemental about it, but I think this parade is very noisy and not a nice environment for them.

I think I agree with you, on the whole.

For a tearjerker horse video….this is an amazing rescue of horses from flood waters in the Netherlands
by 7 lady riders…..always makes me cry (and yes I’m a horse owner, with a heard of 20+)