Rush hour chaos in London as 5 military horses run amok after getting spooked during exercise

[Coventina]

LONDON (AP) — Five military horses spooked by noise from a building site bolted during routine exercises on Wednesday near Buckingham Palace, threw off four riders and caused chaos as they galloped loose through central London streets and collided with vehicles during the busy morning rush hour.

The commotion erupted when the horses from the Household Cavalry, which were conducting an extended exercise for an upcoming military parade, presumably became alarmed by the sound of concrete falling off a moving walkway at a construction site in Belgravia, a swanky neighborhood just to the west of the palace.

Five of the seven horses ran off and four soldiers were thrown off. Three of them were hospitalized with injuries. None of them were deemed to be life-threatening.

The horses — minus their riders — then ran through main roads in central London, hitting vehicles and stunning commuters as they headed to work. The horses were all captured shortly after and are back at the barracks in Hyde Park undergoing medical tests.

***Warning! Disturbing images at link***

https://apnews.com/article/horses-loose-london-d0525d510fac63e28e1f6ea663e2c786

Why in the absolute FUCK are horses still being used in the military?!?!?!?!

Very cruel and unnecessary!

[MustLoveBeagles]

1. That was disturbing

I hope they're getting excellent medical care

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. It's ceremonial. Do you regard all horse-riding as "very cruel and unnecessary"?

Or are some people OK to ride horses?

[Coventina]

5. I consider horse riding to be suspect at best.

The military use of horses, even ceremonial, is a relic of the inhumane past, and is still dangerous now, given the facts of this story.

There is no excuse for it.

[Elessar Zappa]

7. Most horses like to be ridden.

I’ve seen it up close, they get excited when their owner comes with the saddle.

[Coventina]

8. Can you really know it's most?

I’m sure some do. Horses are individuals, like people. That’s why I said suspect, and didn’t dismiss it out of hand.

However, I have some definite concerns about a practice called “breaking” the horse to accept being ridden.

[Elessar Zappa]

10. I've been around quite a few and all that I've seen seem to like it.

I’m sure you’re correct that there’s some who probably don’t enjoy it.

[BannonsLiver]

3. Because it's part of their traditions.

Those horses get better healthcare and eat better than most of the people on this forum. Have seen it up close.

[Coventina]

6. Lots of cruel things are traditional.

That doesn’t mean they should be practiced.

[BannonsLiver]

9. They live better than most people here.

And Riding horses is not cruel. The end.

[jeffreyi]

4. Dammit.

This triggers me big time. Can't stand to watch. May they be healthy and happy again. Actually, I hope they find themselves in a spacious pasture hanging with buddies soon.

[Kid Berwyn]

11. A construction crane dropped a load of concrete close to the horses.

Five horses got spooked. Four threw their riders and took off. The animals were injured running into vehicles, buildings, people and whatever they couldn't see.

I hope all riders and animals get back to 100-percent ASAP. Horsies are amazing creatures -- friends of humanity from way back.