Horses on the rampage in Central London.

[bellaozzydog]

Horses are right up there in the “ridiculous animals” stakes.

Huge, powerful, things that are more than capable of dishing out a severe kicking to anything they don’t like. Scared of their own shadow, someone sneezing, a passing butterfly, carrier bags, and for one I once rode, gaps in a hedge

Basically tarmac’ers on heroic doses of mushrooms

 

[andysays]

If we're still doing puns:

I heard that a Shetland pony was asked about yesterday's incident, but wasn't able to comment because it was a little hoarse.

 

[Aladdin]

Steady on, getting a bit conspiraloon here.

Not at all... straw / hay / rye can become contaminated and cause all sorts of health and behavioural issues

 

[WouldBe]

Whatever the cause it might be an idea to put gates on the entrance that are only opened when they are ready to take the horses out.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Need to all be tested for toxins and infections.

Novichok

Probably did a little too much ketamine for recreational purposes.

 

[Spymaster]

Not at all... straw / hay / rye can become contaminated and cause all sorts of health and behavioural issues

I think I’d be inclined to apply Occams Razor to this one and conclude that if half a ton of building materials were dropped from a crane right beside them, that’s probably what caused them to bolt.

 

[Orang Utan]

I think I’d be inclined to apply Occams Razor to this one and conclude that if half a ton of building materials were dropped from a crane right beside them, that’s probably what caused them to bolt.

aye, makes the most sense to me

 

[Pickman's model]

Not at all... straw / hay / rye can become contaminated and cause all sorts of health and behavioural issues

i think we can put 'an outbreak of ergotism' on the back burner for the time being

 

[Orang Utan]

Not at all... straw / hay / rye can become contaminated and cause all sorts of health and behavioural issues

maybe, but they have already explained what happened.

 

[Pickman's model]

maybe, but they have already explained what happened.

but can their explanation be credited? [/Aladdin]

 

[Aladdin]

i think we can put 'an outbreak of ergotism' on the back burner for the time being

Hopefully.

 

[Aladdin]

I think I’d be inclined to apply Occams Razor to this one and conclude that if half a ton of building materials were dropped from a crane right beside them, that’s probably what caused them to bolt.

Maybe.

Three incidents in one week with horse guard horses throwing their riders is very unusual. Maybe yesterday was due to being spooked by noise. But Tuesday's and today's were not "loud noise" triggered.

 

[kabbes]

There’s no such thing as training that would stop a horse from reacting to absolutely anything in absolutely any circumstances. They’re prey animals that have evolved to react quickly to anything that is remotely unexpected. You can condition them to a very large degree, but that doesn’t mean 100% foolproof.

I do question the appropriateness of horses being used like this, regardless. When you condition a horse not to react to loud noises and alarming events, that doesn’t mean that they somehow learn not to be bothered by the things that scare them. It just means they internalise and contain their reaction to that thing. The distress still exists and is still evident if you know what you’re looking for. I find it unpleasant to know that they exist pretty much permanently in that kind of state while on duty.

 

[Aladdin]

I do question the appropriateness of horses being used like this, regardless. When you condition a horse not to react to loud noises and alarming events, that doesn’t mean that they somehow learn not to be bothered by the things that scare them. It just means they internalise and contain their reaction to that thing. The distress still exists and is still evident if you know what you’re looking for. I find it unpleasant to know that they exist pretty much permanently in that kind of state while on duty.

Completely agree with this.

I don't think horses exercising around the roads and parks is ok either.

 

[Epona]

People fall off horses all the time, it's just this week's news theme, every slight incident that comes into the public eye is going to make it into the papers.

Do we know if the horses from yesterday are alright?

 

[Spymaster]

Well they're not permanently being scared shitless are they. Most of the time when they're not being pampered to buggery by grooms and stable-hands, they're bimbling around town, probably far less concerned than the people sitting on them. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong but I believe we stopped using them for cavalry charges some years ago, although the Poles famously charged a German infantry brigade on horseback in 1939 with half decent results.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

Do we know if the horses from yesterday are alright?

two 'in a serious condition' it says here

Runaway horses in ‘serious condition’ after bolting through central London

Animals ran through rush-hour streets, colliding with vehicles and leaving four people in hospital

www.theguardian.com

 

[Spymaster]

Do we know if the horses from yesterday are alright?

All but one are back in barracks being looked after.

'Quaker' and 'Vida' were operated on last night and Vida has been detained in an equine hospital for observation.

 

[kabbes]

Well they're not permanently being scared shitless are they.

While on duty (rather than in the stables), you mean? How do you know? The horse psychologist on Radio 4 last night reckoned they are indeed permanently in a state of distress, if that helps you.

 

[Spymaster]

While on duty (rather than in the stables), you mean? How do you know? The horse psychologist on Radio 4 last night reckoned they are indeed permanently in a state of distress, if that helps you.

The one on Radio 2 reckoned they're generally pretty happy with their lot and far better cared for than many in private hands.

 

[kabbes]

The one on Radio 2 reckoned they're generally pretty happy with their lot and far better cared for than many in private hands.

This is not necessarily inconsistent (although the first half of the sentence is pretty meaningless, because a horse has no concept of its “lot”).

Have you spent much time riding, Spy?

 

[Spymaster]

Have you spent much time riding, Spy?

A fair bit when I was younger but not on horses.

 

[bcuster]

Why are any animals used for ceremonial nonsense?

Utter prehistoric barbarity... Many humans will've had a lot to answer for when they are called into accounts for the way they treat the animals entrusted to them...

 

[krtek a houby]

Many humans will've had a lot to answer for when they are called into accounts for the way they treat the animals entrusted to them...

When, where and who by?

 

[ouirdeaux]

When, where and who by?

The staff of the accounts department. Duh.

 

[souljacker]

Why are any animals used for ceremonial nonsense?

Utter prehistoric barbarity... Many humans will've had a lot to answer for when they are called into accounts for the way they treat the animals entrusted to them...

Doug Forcett over here

 

[Raheem]

They're residents within the zone, so get a 90% discount.

Should also get an Ultra Low Emissions discount. At least I think so, but I'd have to look up what the HP of a horse is.

 

[Leafster]

Horses are right up there in the “ridiculous animals” stakes.

Huge, powerful, things that are more than capable of dishing out a severe kicking to anything they don’t like. Scared of their own shadow, someone sneezing, a passing butterfly, carrier bags, and for one I once rode, gaps in a hedge

A while back I was out on my bike on a bridleway. I'd stopped to take some photos and have some water so I'd propped my bike up against a tree. I spotted a horse and rider in the distance so I thought it best not to get on the bike and cycle up the track towards them but instead wait for them to pass.

As they got closer, the horse got very jittery and the rider was having trouble controlling it. They took an age to get level with me. When they did, the rider explained that the horse got spooked by my rider-less bike leaning against the tree. Apparently, she told me, the horse was fine with cyclists but got freaked out by seeing shiny metal bikes without people on them!

 

[Aladdin]

Should also get an Ultra Low Emissions discount. At least I think so, but I'd have to look up what the HP of a horse is.

There might be methane omissions..

 

[Raheem]

There might be methane omissions..

Solid fuel as well, usually.