Horses Running Free in Central London

[Melontree]

I just saw this breaking piece. One of the horses is bleeding/has blood on it. They're both saddled and bridled - I can't imagine what's happened here. I'm sure there'll be an explanation at some point, but I truly hope the horses and riders are okay.

Anyone in the area seen/heard anything?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/24/horses-on-loose-central-london

Those poor horses, I'm hoping that the sweat, the light colour and the increased heart rate of the grey means the injuries aren't as bad as they seem. I'm just thinking about those poor legs after panic galloping 6 miles on tarmac though, concussion injuries which may take a few days to become apparent.

6 miles isn't really a long way for fit horses like these, especially not when the first two miles will have been blind panic gallop. They're chosen for their breeding - strength and stamina. Anyone who's ever been on a horse bolting through fear will tell you it's a feeling like no other, I've been tanked off with by horses that were overenthusiastic and wanted to have a gallop, but that blind panic gallop is like going up another gear with absolutely no control and they make bad decisions in the moment, and there's no getting through that flight mechanism untill the adrenaline wears off a bit.

It's a wonder that more people weren't hurt, I hope the soldiers are recovering, and the guy on the bike, I've been dumped at speed on tarmac, and I've also been wiped out from the floor - I don't recommend either, scary and painful.

But I think considering how many were originally spooked, the fact 5 unseated their riders and two ran 6 miles, in central London, and I think only one member of the public hurt, speaks a lot to the training of both horses and riders.

A group of horses spooking like that and some taking off after losing their riders could have been so, so much worse, to get those remaining horses under control again speaks to their training and skills.

It does make me wonder though if it's unfair to put the horses in that position nowadays? I love the horses and the ceremonies and the level of horsemanship, skill and training that it shows (and I like spotting the little bugger who refuses to walk in a straight line and likely gives their soldier a numb bum by jogging constantly!) but as nice as it is, I'm not sure we need it to happen.

The parades and stuff used to show off how well the horses and men were trained for battle, we don't need that anymore, and the training is impressive but I'm not sure it's necessary. I'm not 'against' it as such but questioning the validity of it when there's no real need to put those horses in that position.

@DdraigGoch "You must have confused them with headless chickens."
😂

That update from the Army made it much clearer - a load of building stuff being dropped from a height right next to them in a quiet street. All my surprise at their bolting has gone.

That would be akin to a bomb going off; not surprised the poor buggers bolted. 😕

All horses are back in their stables according to this evening's news report, I am glad to hear.

There is video of the grey being loaded into the box with a very tender near side hind leg.

It was a dramatic sight to see when GMB showed it this morning.

Reminded me of Jumanji. I was for an elephant to slowly lump pass.

Hoping that horses and riders are all OK tonight. Central London all the way to Limehouse is crazy to think of. I understand why they do these practice missions so early in the morning now. Hope the builders dropping the materials have calmed down too, they must have had a bit of grief about this at work today.

The horses must have been terrified,hope they are now getting TLC ! Hope all other casualties are recovering.

The man who helped the horse out

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/24/london-blood-covered-household-cavalry-horses-run-loose/

He's about 20 seconds into the video

I couldn't believe it - I do think Americans are much more given to whooping and hollering generally than we are in UK...but for supposed horse people, they didn't have much of a clue.

If you are going to stand in the path of a terrified horse, he isn't going to stop, but he will run you down. Terrified horses run through fences, into vehicles &c, but there were older men trying to stand in the way of the galloping horses, and they were knocked down.

Not much horse sense.

Had everyone been quiet, and not running around, it would have probably resolved faster, with far less injury.

That was frightening to watch. The poor horse near the end that collapsed after shedding the trap - or whatever it’s called - I hope it survived. It looked to be in a bad way.

I just watched that video and it would be a good teaching aid on how not to deal with a spooking/bolting horse - especially in a group!

The commentator seems to be the only one who has any idea, telling people to be quiet, try and keep the horse on the outside and let him run himself out. Someone was literally screaming "Woah!!" Towards the end - it's not the word it's the tone and that was just driving the horse further away.

They should have unhitched the other horses straight away as well, and you just don't stand in front of a panic stricken horse like that, that's already run into other objects that are bigger than you are.

I really hope that horse at the end got up ok and everyone recovered.

I'm worried about the poor riders. The horses look like they're OK.
The comment about the riders being "in hospital but not life threatening" is quite worrying to me.
Its lacking in the usual "expected to make a full recovery" Maybe I am reading to much into that. But I'm worried they are some very serious injuries to those poor guys?

A few have commented on how little video there is, part of it will be the speed they were going at little time to see them, and get phones out.

The unusual noise makes me think something has gone wrong at the building site, a chain snapping or something. You wouldn't want to drop materials because that's how materials get damaged.

I also know when the horses are training they put the less experienced horses in the middle so they'll be calmed by the other more experienced horses around them.

Concrete debris/ large pieces was being loaded from the first floor down a makeshift shoot ( which reduced the speed ) to a truck on the street. Some of the concrete missed the shoot so landed with a heavy crash.

Reminded me of Jumanji. I was for an elephant to slowly lump pass.

Well that happened last week in Montana lol.

I thought there might be cctv or traffic camera footage (of which i suspect there is a lot in central London) rather than deliberate filming.

A friend is in the household calvary and I'm pretty sure they are generally assigned to one horse for a period of time. They had one they were using for the platinum jubilee (although different to one they had had a few years previously)

Yes, they might be preassigned a horse for a specific special event such as the coronation, but for regular duties they ride different horses every day.

Oh dear

I've woken up to the news that there's been a statement by Defence Minister James Cartlidge that three of the horses are fine, but two, Viola and Quaker, are in a serious condition, but as he understands it, still alive.

The bolt was caused by builders dropping rubble from height "right next to them"

The horses will not be ok after galloping flat out on 5 miles of tarmac, their legs will be totally shot to pieces, it's so sad 😢. Really hope all the riders are ok 🙏🏼

two are in serious condition is very sad news

😢

Sad news two of the horses are in serious condition.
Surprised they didn't update on the poor riders too I really hope they are OK.

The condition of the horses will relate to their legs: the concussion of galloping on tarmac could have caused some serious issues. Horses' legs are notoriously complicated, they are so delicate and fragile for an animal of its size.

Years ago, at the yard I worked in, one of the liveries managed to get a relatively minor cut whilst out in the field that nicked the joint capsule of his knee. It was touch and go for a while about whether he would make it as if an infection gets into the joint it would have been game over.

I'm guessing the lack of update on the soldier's is down to patient confidentiality: if they don't want to make their condition known, or want a bit of privacy while they recover, then there's nothing more to be said.

Absolutely awful for the horses. I feel for the soldiers to, not only are some injured, but they'll work with these horses every day and form a bond.

I know a bit about injured racehorses, the vets will be considering every treatment available, they're vet assessed every 2-3 days, physiotherapy and massages can be given for weeks, alongside being moved to a horse rest centre, with a view to rehoming (I doubt these horses to working horses).I'm sure working horses of this nature will be offered the same. Not saying that makes it any easier for them to get over, but really hoping they'll get the best treatment available.