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Bayard

(23,439 posts) Fri Jul 26, 2024, 01:00 AM Jul 26

Horse says--Don't Stand So Close To Me

A tourist in London learned the hard way that the King’s Guard horses are not just for show.

The King’s Guards have long been a beloved tourist attraction in London. Visitors eagerly arrive at the location to snap a photo for their travelogues with the impeccably dressed soldiers and their horses. A video shared over the weekend by a TikTok account, Buska in The Park, captured the moment a woman received a bad chomp from one of the majestic horses.

Buska in The Park’s video showed the must-see tourist attraction being crowded by visitors while the horse seemed clearly fed up with admirers inching closer for their photo ops. Several tourists were captured taking turns and posing next to the imposing horse, triggering the animal to chomp hard on one of the tourists’ arms. As the crowd gathered around her, the woman eventually collapsed to the ground and received medical attention.

A group of armed police officers were seen coming to check up on her after she fainted. Some people online believed the group of tourists should have paid heed to the horse’s warnings. “Four warnings that horse gave!” one said. This incident isn’t exactly an isolated case. Despite clear warnings about the risks of horse kicks and bites, some tourists still give in to the temptation of getting as close as possible to the four-legged creatures.

Video clip:
https://www.tiktok.com/@busk1976/video/7394118235580353825?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Twice in one day I've had to say, Stupid is as stupid does. This horse is clearly very irritated by these people that keep getting in his space. The pinned ears and nipping are a clue. The thing with horses is that, they can't open their mouths and release something. They have to sliiiiiiide their teeth off. I had a friend whose big old mean horse clamped down on her shoulder like that when she was a kid, and actually picked her up. Majorly ripped her rotator cuff, among other things.

The point is, like with any other animal, don't keep pushing and pushing them just for a photo op.

5 replies

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Highlight:

Horse says--Don't Stand So Close To Me (Original Post) Bayard Jul 26 OP

I got horse bit in grade school by the neighbors horse captain queeg Jul 26 #1

IMO there should be a security perimeter around the horse and guard EYESORE 9001 Jul 26 #2

The horse was DemonGoddess Jul 26 #3

I decided to go looking for more footage. DemonGoddess Jul 26 #4

Good for the horse. I travel internationally quite a bit and hate all those ridiculous people doing sinkingfeeling Jul 26 #5

captain queeg

(11,443 posts)

1. I got horse bit in grade school by the neighbors horse

Reply to Bayard (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 01:12 AM

Jul 26

Ive been scared of them ever since. Cows too for that matter.

EYESORE 9001

(27,130 posts)

2. IMO there should be a security perimeter around the horse and guard

Reply to Bayard (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 01:41 AM

Jul 26

Consider the horse has to endure all these flighty, fidgety, fingery folks sidling up slyly or barging forward like a billy goat, thrusting those pointy, pokey, proddy little fingers near vulnerable areas. I’m feeling a little bitey just thinking about it.

True, warning signs were ignored, but the opportunity for such an occurrence need never have developed in the first place. Maintain a respectable distance. Respectable. Some people have no respect, so some barricade is needed. No need to get close enough to touch the horse.

From the video, it appears the unfortunate tourist hadn’t done anything, but the horse clearly had had enough of people sidling up slyly. Not an expert, but her injury seems quite serious. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a roped-off area that prevents direct contact very soon.

DemonGoddess

(4,822 posts)

3. The horse was

Reply to Bayard (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 02:54 AM

Jul 26

clearly aggravated with people coming up on the side like that. When he started pawing and pinning his ears, that was a clear sign to back off.

DemonGoddess

(4,822 posts)

4. I decided to go looking for more footage.

Reply to DemonGoddess (Reply #3)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 09:22 AM

Jul 26

This horse's name is Ormonde. He does not like strangers approaching him past his throatlatch. He CLEARLY warns people off, but many people don't read horse cues as they are not familiar. So he bites.

sinkingfeeling

(52,458 posts)

5. Good for the horse. I travel internationally quite a bit and hate all those ridiculous people doing

Reply to Bayard (Original post)

Fri Jul 26, 2024, 10:48 AM

Jul 26

Last edited Fri Jul 26, 2024, 05:32 PM - Edit history (1)

stupid things to get a video or photo for social media. I was at the Cliffs of Moher last month, when two tweens climbed over the barrier so the parents could get a photo of them perched on the edge of a 700 foot drop to the sea.

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