London Protest Police Horse which Bolted

[kgal3542]

I am not able to load the videos of what happened due to dodgy internet connection, I have seen some photos. Can anyone update on the condition of the horse? The poor thing looked looked so frightened, am concerned for the horse and it's rider. There are also conflicting reports that the horse trampled a protestor, and another that a protestor was bitten.

I think they just said on the news that it knocked down a protester. The policewoman was hospitalised, but not seriously injured. One report said the horse ran back to its stables?

Was horrible to watch. They were throwing bikes at another horse :(

It trotted back to its stables, apparently. I'd like to know what set it off. Really hope the officer and protester are ok..

(Trotted back unharmed - that's what it said un the news anyway)

It will be fine they have extensive 'desensitization' training . Shouldn't use animals as weapons tbh.

Someone threw a bike at the horses?! That's awful!

TitianaTitsling

Yes, the video was all over Facebook. Horrific.

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the horse that got ridden into traffic lights. The video is on Sky News and the angle shows the policewoman and horse striking the traffic lights and her falling off, and then the horse bolting. It's being shared on FB with claims she was pulled off the horse.

Moment police officer rides into traffic light news.sky.com/video/share-12002028

The officer was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the horse went back to the stables on its own, thankfully.

It looked nasty. She lost control of the animal and was knocked off by traffic lights. Glad they are both ok. But she definitely wasn't 'pulled off'.

Yes, the power of selective camera angles and social media! No one ever bothers to fact-check the stuff, they just hit 'share' with an angry face.

To be fair, I don't think anyone on this thread has suggested that the rider was pulled off. Whatever caused the horse to bolt I'm glad it is ok and hope the officer and protestor are too.

Yes, sorry, it was referring to the ones actually sharing it on FB with that as the headline. I've seen it three times this morning already!

The ‘peaceful’ protesters were throwing bricks, not to mention a bike at the poor thing.

I don’t think horses should be used in situations like this when dealing with violent people.

Tanks would be better

Thanks everyone, in particular @ScarfLadysBag.

All horses safe and sound, the 2 that lost riders ran back to their stables.

The policewoman suffered a broken collarbone, shattered ribs and a collapsed lung.

Like Tiananmen Square, leckford?

That's what will immediately spring to most people's minds, I assume it was intentional.

Glad the horses are OK, but the poor policewoman - those are nasty injuries and she must be in a fair amount of pain. I doubt the protest has won over hearts and minds to the viewpoint of the protesters, if anything it's probably just caused ill feeling.

I’ve never seen so much concern on social media over a police horse.

Normally when they get in harms way at other protests or at football gatherings there’s veritable crickets.

Hopefully it’s the sign of a newfound surge in animal fondness from everyone and not at all related to the different demographics seen at football matches vs the BLM protest...

I hope that all the horses are alright, and the injured police woman.

Dyrne it's very interesting isn't it.

Yes there's a lot of people on fb saying how 'discusting'(sic)it all is , along with a sudden interest in equine welfare......

I don't think it's a new thing. I'm old enough to remember when the IRA killed all those horses at the bandstand in Hyde Park. Never have I felt so revolted. I'm not bothered what skin colour the people are who did it, and the same here. Totally unnecessary and horrible.

I was relieved to see the chestnut soundly cantering down Whitehall and glad rider is reasonably ok .

I don't think animals should be used as weapons.

Police horses are massive though, really impressive. Once stroked one on the nose at a protest!