Using Horses At London Protests Is Outdated

I've been waiting for this video. The action starts at 1:36

Police horses can be lifesavers when crowds need to be guided for safety reasons. horsetalk.co.nz...

For a number of reasons police horses are no longer viable for crowd control at London protests.

The horses themselves have changed their attitude in recent years. Their reduced enthusiasm and co-operation at protests has been noticed by police riders.

Numerous methods for thwarting mounted charges have been developed. Fireworks are extraordinarily crude and show total disregard for the physical well being of others. More sophisticated methods will be used if the inappropriate use of horses continues.

Times have changed. The use of horses at London protests needs a rethink.

I put away my camera and began trying to tell people to leave the horses alone. They hadn’t chosen to police this event.

They were forced. As far as I’m concerned it’s a form of animal cruelty to use them and I certainly wasn’t going to allow them to be further abused.

Daisy Greenaway
www.itv.com...

a reply to: Kester

Better horses than dogs, imo.

originally posted by: Kester
The horses themselves have changed their attitude in recent years. Their reduced enthusiasm and co-operation at protests has been noticed by police riders.

I doubt the horse know what year it is! I very much doubt they are chatting to each other in the stables. This is about training.....or lack of. Clearly those horses have not been trained to ignore fireworks or flares.

Numerous methods for thwarting mounted charges have been developed. Fireworks are extraordinarily crude and show total disregard for the physical well being of others. More sophisticated methods will be used if the inappropriate use of horses continues.

Now we get to it. I suspect you trying to show that you have respect for horses and so any harm they come to is the fault of the police irrespective of where that harm comes from.

Times have changed. The use of horses at London protests needs a rethink.

Maybe , maybe not. The police need to match the required response to the perceived outcome of the march. I have no doubt that the police go in heavy handed. But I am also in no doubt that all marches have a.holes in the crowd that ruin the protest for the genuine protestors. A bit of reality on both sides would help.

a reply to: Kester

Apparently on the UK the police need to train their horses better. In the US police departments train the horses not to be startled for things such as fireworks. Since often times they will be used in fourth of July celebrations. I've seen horses with fireworks landing at their feet and looking at the guy like are you serious.

a reply to: intrptr

That's true.

There have been a series of regrettable incidents with police horses at protests in recent years. Riders, bystanders and horses being hurt.

The main difference I can see between horses and dogs is the horses will bolt as a herd whereas I would expect the dogs to stay closer to their handler or panic and run off on their own.

Close examination of videos taken over recent years shows reduced co-operation of the police horses with their riders. With the changing nature of protest I see the dangerous possibility of a number of riderless horses bolting through protestors, bystanders and traffic.

34 seconds for a dog solution. CO2, not powder.

a reply to: dragonridr

They were better trained but they've regressed. Not through training faults but through their own experience at protests. I've watched the process. Horses are honourable creatures. They have decided to make their stand. Their new unwillingness is obvious but cannot be accepted for what it is by those whose attitude is they are little more than dumb brutes.

Many horse owners use telepathy on a daily basis in their training and interaction with their horses. Those who aren't there yet cannot accept the truth that is before us.

British police horses do not want to take the bankers side against the people.

a reply to: yorkshirelad

"Telepathy can be described as receiving pictures or images from an animal. All animals, especially those from the same species, can communicate with each other on this level. Humans are no different. We just have a harder time, because we rely on verbal communication. Our speech has become so complex that almost any emotion or idea can be described in detail though our words. Most of us think in words and sentences as well. This is not the case in horses and other animals. They think in pictures and feel emotions." holistichorse.com...

If we're lucky one of the ATS members who regularly uses telepathy with their horses will clarify this.

British police horses have been 'discussing' their position and their behavior has changed.

a reply to: Kester

The main difference I can see between horses and dogs is the horses will bolt as a herd whereas I would expect the dogs to stay closer to their handler or panic and run off on their own.

Dogs bite, horses block. They are well trained to not hurt people, that is their intent, naturally.

I've been at demonstrations and concerts where horses were used. Gotta have respect and make way when they come abreast, clop clopping.

In old times military phalanxes of armored horses wheeled and turned like a tank does today, mowing over any resistance, their riders able to wield bow and sword from safety as they plowed through the enemy ranks.

You wouldn't want to be in front of that on the battlefield.

Today they operate as a line to block and herd crowds and you still get out of their way if your smart.

Horses hoofs/horse shoes are not designed for Tarmac or concrete. Maybe some sort of Rubber shoe is required.

Police horses serve a good purpose at demonstrations, but clearly if the crowd decide to pick on horses then it's problematic. For example, if the horse reared up and kicked someone trying to frighten it, guess who would be in trouble? The protester with a broken collar bone would probably get a nice pay-out on account of his sad face and "victim" expression.

Horses have their place. So do dogs. Violent protesters should be arrested and dealt with by the courts and not let off with a caution, IMHO. There's no need for violence at protests, and it's usually a bunch of sad cretins anyway waving their "socialist worker" banners and crying that the world owes them more, as they try to break into McDonalds.

On training police horses in the UK. They are trained to a high standards from what I have read.

hi im a bit concerned this is a propaganda piece to garner support for the water cannons that they failed to implement
before, now i have seen the policehorses panic around staffs and pitbulls before ,and yes i feel sorry for the horses
as they did not chose to go there ,and my mum sent me to learn horse riding when i was 11 so i do really like horses.

but they already have policecars and policevans and armed response and police helicopters ..
so if the uk police bring in this more modern tactic ,this is a direct attempt to deter democracy and to stop protests
with force and to quell legitimate uprising by the people...

the people have a right to protest and innocent protesters may be hurt for simply being there..

any way if this government think they can quell legitimate uprising by the people with grave concerns how this country
is being run,then they will see tactics like thermite rockets used against them to melt these watercannons...

now i may be jumping the gun here about the water cannons,but they have tried before boris johnson buys water cannon
but theresa may at the time stopped this theresa may stops use of water cannon

again they might not be thinking along these lines and decide to go lrad (long range acoustic device) like we saw in ferguson!!..

so looks to me they are attempting to use tactics to stop political dissent by the people instead of addressing why we are marching in the first place!!!!!!

we the people want change,the people in charge refuse to listen or change ...
now they are declaring war on dissent ,my eyes are open

originally posted by: Soloprotocol
Horses hoofs/horse shoes are not designed for Tarmac or concrete. Maybe some sort of Rubber shoe is required.

Its a horse!, can't say if it had steel or alloy shoes (flat or steeplechase). Rubber would be quite expensive due to the replacement frequency. Ever tried "shoeing"s a challenger 2 tank?

Horses are used basically the same as cavalry or more specifically heavy horse
Nothing stands in the way of a charge of heavy horse, and you don't get the blow back that you would from using vehicles
Just watch the police charges at some of the protests in the '70's and '80's

However a good bag or pocket full of chilli powder ......air dispersed has quite an effect against cavalry, lasers can be of help also and co2 fire extinguishers as mentioned

originally posted by: AlphaPred
Horses are used basically the same as cavalry or more specifically heavy horse
Nothing stands in the way of a charge of heavy horse

You ain't watched BRAVEHEART then, William Wallace knew how to deal with that one (well, Mel Gibson and Hollywood did)

Fair one
But pulling out spears as long as 2 men would probably be met with rubber bullets at best
Then you gotta have them and get them there
a reply to: corblimeyguvnor

originally posted by: AlphaPred
Fair one
But pulling out spears as long as 2 men

would probably be met with rubber bullets at best
Then you gotta have them and get them there
a reply to: corblimeyguvnor

As long as 2 men? you been listening to your mum again, lol. Vid of Sterlingbridge added to my last post. Good Movie

On Topic, and i can only vouch for football matches back in the 80's and not riots, a horse's arse in the face taught me manners (after the second time) dogs, i witnessed, just got kicked to quietness. Outdated as per OP? dunno

So because somebody got the horse line to back up what, 100 feet? You want them to stop using horses altogether? Why? Because some, but not all, of the horses jumped and ran for all of 20 feet before their riders regained control of them?

Sounds like somebody is scared of horses.

a reply to: Kester

Out on a limb as usual on this. I think people have the absolute right to protest and in this day and age with the corruption and bent politicians hanging onto their seats and money perks by their teeth and claws - its even more essential we have the right to do this without police interference and their stupid attitude that we are all criminals, because we don't agree with the current slough of bent elitists who are exploiting us and the police also - although they are too daft to realise it.

It never ceases to amaze we that we caught onto the police and MI 5 plants who often start off the trouble deliberately, so late in the day, probably because once we all had great respect for our police force. But having sat near one when he kicked off he was so obvious when he walked away through the police cordon. However,the force at which he was violent against people was horrendous.

I don't actually like animals being used for police work as they get scared however well they are trained and am glad some horses don't seem to be so enthusiastic. But its like any deterrent the police would use (except in chasing after someone like a rapist with a dog following the scent), people know how to deal with animals or will pretty quickly find out how. In fact training for some parts of the army for WW2 was against German Shepherds where the men were trained to grab the front lets and pull them apart when the animal jumped up at them or went for them.

With things going the way they are concerning public dissatisfaction and the huge gap between the below the bread-line and Oinky cameron's mob, I can see it evolving into armed battles at these protests though unless the reasons we protest over are dealt with. Things can't go on as they are, even in the UK. I can't remember this level of despair and disgust across all the age groups here before.

a reply to: paraphi

The protester with a broken collar bone would

If a horse kicks out in fear, you're gonna have more than a broken collarbone.

equimed.com...

The force of a horse's kick has been compared to the impact of a small automobile moving at 20 miles an hour.

a reply to: corblimeyguvnor

I have.

True story.

Horses can be trained to attack people.The attackee will be in a sorry state afterwards.I believe police horses are trained to push rather than clomp.I still feel sorry for the poor things.I've been around horses for years and love the daft lumps.