To think using horses the way the royals do needs to be stopped.

[WildFlowerBees]

The way their horses are used in ceremonies really isn't good. I don't expect everyone to get it, lots of people who don't know about horses just see it and think oh look how lovely, lots of riders don't see the issue. I don't find it comfortable watching horses some just under their threshold and a few over it.

I've had horses for years mostly rescues, I don't subscribe to the BHS way of thinking so I'm already labelled as 'odd' I find this sort of treatment of animals sad.

Yrnbu

Ugh, if they used more cars and less
horses you’d just have something different to complain about- ‘all those cars, royals never think about the environment do they?!’

Why are you insisting you have to be right and everyone else who has owned and worked with horses for many years is wrong if they do not agree with you? Some of the horses were really relaxed, others were finding the whole thing quite exciting and a few looked like they would rather be somewhere else. I am assuming that for some of them, this was their first major occasion. No matter how much training they have, at some point they take part in a parade like this and everyone finds out whether they like it or not. I also find it very easy to tell when a horse is nearing or above its threshold. And clearly my findings do not agree with yours.

It's always a very debated thread , working horses , racing horses etc etc it's good to get everyone discussing it and welfare

Surely anyone who isn't self-employed isn't doing their own work.

My dearly loved mare could pull faces to scare the devil.

Maybe she lived 24 years of misery.

Mare stares are completely different 😄

She bit as well.

Witch.

They have Turnout at Windsor and Hampton Court- unlike pet horses or racers they aren’t routinely sold on, and are exercised in simple tack on non ceremonial days.

I’d rather be a Royal horse than a riding school horse! Or a pet owned by a heavy or un knowledgeable owner left to fester with terrible feet in a field with no grass, that isn’t poo picked daily.

The RF own large pastures.

Many horses owned suffer from ignorant owners, at least the Army horses receive the best of care.

Absolutely.
You can’t give TBs away- After racing too often unsound, and they don’t make “ Happy hackers” for novices, TBs are expensive to keep properly, but are wonderful horses, albeit sensitive.
Most horse meat comes from the Irish racing industry- Young TBs .
Not to mention the racing injuries that are often fatal.

That isn’t a “ Blue mane “😂

They are lightweight trappings similar to what heavy horses wear, or, in human terms, like a clip in feather “ Fascinator”.

If riding was banned, no one would keep horses at all.
You can’t just turn horses loose and expect them to care for themselves- they are too domesticated, need teeth floating,feet trimming, routine worming and for the finely bred, rugging in cold weather.
Native ponies might manage a bit better, being small and hardy, but horses are basically dependent on man in most countries.

The bloke on top of the reversing horse doesn't have a hat on, like the others, why would that be?

No matter how much training they have, at some point they take part in a parade like this and everyone finds out whether they like it or not.

Is that an acceptable level of randomness, in terms of public safety?

The horse that freaked out and charged backwards into the safety barriers could have killed someone. (Arguably the safety barriers were not optimally adequate either.) A police officer was hurt and at least half a dozen spectators probably shat themselves and were bloody lucky to be able to move away quickly enough. If the weather had been better and the crowd deeper on the pavement it could have been another story.

It's all very well for a pp to say that horses aren't machines - agreed, but maybe that's why using them in large numbers under stressful circumstances in a densely populated environment isn't in fact a good idea.

I agree @DepartureLounge, and I don't know why some people who purport to be ultra-knowledgeable about horses are minimising it.
Even the most steadfast horse can get the wind under it's tail, and while that doesn't "doom|" them to a life of no more pageantry, it should mean that - for their own and people's safety, they should be removed from the event, to reassure them and their rider.

The horses will be well taken cared of. They looked fine to me.

I saw on twitter that the reversing horse had a stone thrown at it. Any horse would be spooked by that

That's horrible. I really do loathe people sometimes.
(I don't have Twitter.)

It would not be quite the same if they were all togged out like the riot Police horses. But they are very vulnerable, if shitty idiots want to behave like the t**ts they are.

@oakleaffy yeah absolutely agree with you , they sometimes go dirt cheap and people buy them like you say for happy hacking and can't cope with their highly strung ways , I mean not all TB's of course
I also agree I would rather be one of the Calvary horses than a riding school pony/ horse any day

Growing up as a military brat, I was fortunate to be taught to ride, and spent a large amount of my life hanging around in the stables.

Most of our horses were ex Kings troop, so would have taken part in parades etc. They spent most of their time in the fields, being stabled through bad weather. Their welfare was the priority, they would be exercised daily, reshod regularly and the regulation of rest time between riders strict.

They all had distinct personalities and were happy to play tricks with you to see what they could get away with. Something I wouldn't expect from animals who have been abused.
In my experience, the riders are second to the horses in priority.

Thank you to everyone who replied to my questions !

@foxlover47 @DidyouNO @twistyizzy

I’m glad you brought up the bear skin caps as Peta have been running a brilliant campaign to raise awareness. There are excellent faux fur alternatives so there is absolutely no excuse to kill Canadian bears.

I never understand the royals ‘passion’ for conservation when they are still shooting birds for fun, keeping a very cruel pigeon racing loft and other abnomalies. They could be such a force for change.

The Canadian bears are culled anyway, there are just too many of them.

In Canada, provincial and territorial governments regulate the management of wildlife species, including black bears. They are managed based on sound scientific and traditional knowledge to ensure long-term species conservation and to protect human health and safety. Regulations vary from one province/territory to another.

Bears are hunted for the provision of social and economic benefits. Many licensed hunters use the meat and provide the pelt for human use. Bear hunting provides additional income to people living in rural communities, where economic opportunities are limited. The manufacturers of Royal Guards hats (Busby) generally obtain their furs from fur auction houses in Canada, which sell the bear hides on behalf of the hunters and trappers

.https://fur.ca/conservation/black-bear-population-in-canada/

No idea why you are promoting the pointless slaughter of bears when the synthetic alternatives are lighter and waterproof.
Did you know they target mother bears as their fur is preferred, thus leaving their young to starve.
And as for quoting the fur industry, well that is rather like quoting the tobacco industry promoting the health benefits of cigarettes.

Horses cared for by the Royals are treated very well and most go to retirement homes when their duty has ended.
Save your ire for the people who keep horses in appalling conditions when some of the animals for where they stand and left to rot!