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.

Yanbu about the horses.

I don't shoe, so no, they charge me nothing.

Horses shod on average every 5 weeks at £100 a set. Do the maths.

Experienced horse people can see very well that some of the horses there are stressed, nervous and on the brink of losing it.

No need for the attitude, it was a genuine question. Mine is shod every 8 weeks at £70 a time. Do the maths. And then wonder why I asked.

@WildFlowerBees

I have never touched a horse with a lunge whip. That's not the correct way - is it?

It definitely is not.

I did say roughly. Some horses go 4 weeks, some longer, so I went for 5 weeks. Some farriers charge £60 but I expect London prices and state horses will be more expensive. Round down a bit and it's still in the order of £200k a year just for the horses used today. There will be more left at home.

That said (and putting aside my personal views on shoeing), it does mean that farriers are earning a living and the money is circulating in the economy, so 🤷‍♀️

Of course they are used as a commodity they always have been.
Those horses are representative of the horses used in war. They are treated impeccably and far better than your average livery horse.
Cows, pigs, sheep, horses have all been used for our convenience, they are not pets.

Exactly

No, absolutely not. Sadly many do. Sending them off in circles because of the belief it creates some kind of connection.

Let's not anthropomorphise about what animals "want".

... but then, nothing bad happens.

You are over thinking this.

I believe your 7 homes for each horse comes from how useful a horse is to their owners plus the cost of keepingit. A sports horse past its peak isn't useful... a race horse gelding isnt useful once it's racing days are over... a small pony for a child isn't useful, once the child is to big ... gosh humans are awful creatures!

A lot of people eat them. I don't really get your point either.

I’m almost positive they’ll have a couple of farriers on staff earning much less than £250k per year. They won’t be getting a farrier in at £100 a pop.

I'd find it less weird if we still hunted food and ate it raw or prepared it ourselves, but what other animals are buying slabs of rotting animal carcass in shops?

You seemed to object to meat on the basis of it being "rotting". And our relatively modern habits of purchasing our food.

Vegetable and produce is also rotting. And yet you don't object to those.

No other species buys goods from stores and markets (whether that's rotting mushrooms. Or slabs of meat). And yet you presumably don't object to the purchase of mushrooms...

I personally honestly failed to see the relevance of your arguments. And I wanted to know whether I was missing something.
I suppose I was simply curious.

Do you think the Household Cavalry is calling in a farrier every few weeks?! 😂

They have their own farriers, it’s one of the roles in the regiment. They aren’t paying per set!

https://www.forces.net/animals/if-shoe-fits-how-army-farriers-keep-household-cavalry-horses-fit-and-healthy#:~:text=A%20small%20team%20of%20Household%20Cavalry%20farriers%20is%20responsible%20for,years%20(Picture%3A%20MOD).

Rotting body parts are grim not sure what else to say.

Here you are OP. Take a look at some of the cruelty and neglect that goes on in USA.
Idaho horse showing does some fantastic work with rescues who can hardly walk.

All the parade horses have pampered lives and are beautifully cared for. It's not as if they are ever going to have to go off to war and drag gun carriages through knee deep mud to the trenches. 🙄

My point is, they are sentient beings and should be treated with far better care and respect. Once a working dog is no longer 'useful' does the owner pass it on or euthanise? No. Understandably the cost of a horse is far more than a dog, however once you decide to have a horse more thought should be given to its lifetime.

Like I have said I work with rescues, I have seen so many that have been passed about from pillar to post and arrive with us carrying trauma. They are emotional beings and us humans are responsible for much of their suffering.

My point will always be lost on those who refuse to see or understand past 'it's got a job' and that is all.

What is the point of your comment? Because other horses have it worse this is ok? There are levels, none of it is ok.

I have horses too and was thinking the same 😔 The two drums on one of their backs were 50kg each. It’s a long day for that poor horse to have to carry that. I did hear this morning that they were at least getting a break while the ceremony took place and riders would dismount but so many of them look absolutely terrified

I came on to say this, I’m glad you have replied.

My farrier is a retired cavalry farrier, who is beautifully skilled and certainly didn’t charge standard freelance prices per horse at the HC!!

If people didn't ride and enjoy hose sports then there'd just be a few horses left in zoos.
Or being neglected left unshod and uncared for in a field somewhere.

You are ridiculously unreasonable.
Yes, you ABVU

The horses are wonderfully cared for and having a great day.

Of course the horses aren't terrified! 😂😂😂

They undergo all sorts of crowd training so that they are able to do their job. 🙄

You are clueless, in fact I'd go so far as to say dangerously ignorant.