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.

Who looks after the horses? Is it mainly vets or are there other professions that would be caring for the welfare of these beautiful horses on a day to day basis? DD who is an avid Pony magazine reader said that you can get acupuncture and holistic therapies for horses nowadays. Just interested what's out there other than vets?

Well vets will obviously look after any health issues, but on a day to day basis it will be grooms.
The horses are well chosen for their role and any which struggle to make the grade in training will be given a different home. The Queen absolutely loved horses.
But maybe the answer is to ban all pet / animal ownership...I especially hate caged birds I find that intolerably cruel, even birds bred in captivity have the natural instinct for freedom.

Lots of horsey types are horrible to horses, because that's their normal culture. One of the reasons I quit riding!

There were semi-wild ponies on the fell outside, and their natural behaviour affirms my opinion that that type of horsey person just talks shit.

This!
Having had horses for many years I didn't see a single horse 'in distress'. I saw a couple being a bit spooky. What a very dramatic thread.

You've just made me think about this for the first time and I agree with you. I would much rather see happy horses running about in a field.

One of the drum horses looked really unhappy today, it kept turning sideways as though it wanted to get out of the procession. I felt really sorry for it. Now I know it was carrying 100kg of drums and a person, I'm not bloody surprised.

I also hated how the greys pulling the coach had blue manes, it made them look stupid, like they were My Little Pony toys. And they didn't look comfortable, to my unknowledgeable eye.

The black cavalry horses were just beautiful, looked really healthy and I hate the thought that they might not have been happy.

If it's stressful for the animals, it should stop, imo.

Completely agree with you OP. It is time this stopped. Horses are meant to be in fields not on tarmac between crowds and cars. I can't fathom.how they can still justify having bear fur hats on the guards either.

I was watching a program the other day about the horse that leads the procession, it's a working police horse that was got from a rescue centre. Once rescued they will be looked after amazingly well and given a job to do which horses enjoy.

I live next to a paddock where there's a horse there that never gets ridden, is on its own with no interaction from humans or other animals bar basic care. The horses used by the RF, or police will enjoy a happy retirement with other horses in fields.

It's great that you are at least thinking about it.

There are not many ways to simply keep horses "running around in a field" in this country (and even in countries where there is the space - it is frowned on, and they are culled); what a lovely way for things to be, if it could be possible though.

In their early relationship with humans, there was probably a point where they realised that if they didn't want to go the same way as the cow, and end up on the dinner table, they could allow themselves to be used for their power and strength and become a means of transport or beast of burden.

There are many many ways that a horse can injure or kill a human - and they choose not to - but of course, it has been taken to the next level and beyond...
matters evolved from that - and here we are today.

If horses could - and were enabled to (cost/health/safety-wise) live freely -there would be far far fewer of the, as they would not be being bred for our purposes - such as entertainment, sport, means of transport and for pleasure and competition - and of course, days like today.
(But at least, in general and here in this country - they are not actually BRED for eating, even though they do sometimes end up in pet food, and elsewhere.)

Do you think that we're unique in eating animals?

There was a similar thread for the Funeral, and the points are just as valid now, as then.

Do you not think that one of the most important things about horses is that they have fairly impassive expressions, so their actions and body language need to be observed, rather than just thinking that they seem "OK". Furthermore, they are being contained by the rider and the tack and surroundings, to an extent, so to an untrained or uncaring eye, all may seem to be well.

The left hand side drum horse was not settled at first - and even when they have settled down, they are not necessarily "happy" - they just have little choice.
Also remember that we do not see everything - it is rare for the camera to focus on an unsettled or "troublesome" horse.

Earthlings (again).....
Please watch 🙏

100% YANBU

@LatteOneShotplease no, I don't agree. From my long experience of handling and observing horses, if the drum horse is generally not happy and settled in his work, then he will be retired and another horse used. Horses are not machines, they need to be willing and co-operative and have a bond and trust with their rider. It is insulting to their handlers to suggest they are being forced to work against their will.

I was watching a prog about rewilding the other night - there were herds of wild horses and the stallions kick the shit out of each other when vying for the mares.

That was cruel.

Well, that wasn't quite what I said.

I also said, we don't see all that happens - just what the cameras show.
I took from his demeanor that he was unsettled, and it is a testament to their nature that they allow themselves to be controlled in the way they are.

And from my long experience of being around horses, I do not profess to know everything - and this - as I said earlier - one (at least) aspect of the equestrian world of which I have no experience.

It won't be London prices. Not sure about the carriage horses, but the rest will use Army farriers - look out for the ones carrying axes instead of swords on the parade. Salary somewhere in the region of £22k. The army has 15 farriers to cover all of its horses, but as they are professional soldiers they will also deploy on operations.

Anything involving horses is inevitably expensive. You might ask why we spend money on ceremonial horse, but you could equally ask why we spend money on full dress uniforms (the forces would be cheaper if they all just wore PCS uniform) or flypasts - the Red Arrows have an annual cost in the tens of millions. If you commissioned a poll asking the public whether we should scrap the Red Arrows to save money, I can almost guarantee what the answer would be.

It's pretty normal for horses to be excited at such a big event with so many other horses but it doesn't mean they are frightened or in distress . They will all be very well trained and prepared.

I used to hunt and team chase where our horses would show similar behaviour, jogging and snatching at the bit. But they would literally jump on the horse box when they knew what the crack was (to go!).

Yes it is not relaxing in a field but horses have been bred to work for 100s of years and I honestly do not think they are distressed.

If we stop using horses older trades and breeding will see the species diminish.

What about Police horses, horse racing, jumping etc. 🙄

Actually working dogs are often passed on! The worst culprits for disposing of their unwanted hunting dogs is Spain.
Many of course are kept purely as pets but some aren't. The continuing decline of large shoots which keep their own packs means most working dogs on a shoot are now also family pets. However in the not too distant past working dogs were indeed PTS once they had passed being useful.

XC day has been moved to tomorrow due to the Coronation sp today is 2nd day of dressage

@twistyizzy oooh I didn't know! I'm working and was disappointed it was not available to watch on the Red Button BBC iPlayer. Then found out the only way to watch is via Badminton TV at £20! So didn't give it another thought.

@LatteOneShotplease I took from his demeanor that he was unsettled, and it is a testament to their nature that they allow themselves to be controlled in the way they are.

Well, that's the thing, I don't really agree that horses DO allow themselves to be controlled that easily. That's the point I was trying to make. The vast majority of horse/rider partnerships are based on trust and co-operation and give and take and the horse DOES enjoy their job, I know this from experience. There can be exceptions, and heavy handed riding and training techniques should be outlawed.
But it it wholly incorrect for ignorant onlookers to judge equestrianism as 'cruel' based on misunderstanding of horse behaviour.

By that measure nobody should ride their neddy on the road either.

These horses really aren’t being asked that much of. A pony in your average riding school would be worked much harder and handled much more harshly than these horses.

how many of the household cavalry horses have you rescued OP?