Wonderful horses

[Riverrose28]

I watched the royal wedding this morning and the horses that pulled the carriages and that were riden in the parade were awesome. None of them spooked even though the crowd was cheering, yelling, baloons flying, confetie in the air, whatever. the horses all did their job with flying colors. Groomed to perfection. Wonderful horses!

 

[tagalong]

Actually, one did spook, slipped... and lost his rider... and then ran loose down the parade route. No one - human or equine - was hurt.

More info on the loose horse - and also here.

 

[Riverrose28]

Oh my gosh, Tagalong, ABC didn't show that mess up! Thanks for posting! Maybe I was caught up in the princess moment, someone give me a tiara and and a carriage. Dream on!

 

[rimmerpaints]

looks like horse slipped on pavement. They probley have slick shoes on them. I know we have done drill tack for riding on pavement and my horse has still slipped. Poor guy that had to hurt and poor horse!!!

 

[anoki]

I noticed several horses getting fidgety and worked up as they were going along.....how can at least one not get worked up in that kind of environment!! Not an easy thing to control or practice for....

That's too bad that one did slip. I hadn't seen that on any of the clips I'd seen yet either

~kathryn

 

[Mona]

As I was watching, I noticed a couple of things that I had wondered about. The first, was the fact that there were riders on the driving horses!

I assumed they must have been there as a safety precaution in case the horses tried to bolt?? And also with those same driving horses, it seemed that the row of horses along the side that the rider was sitting, were all moving in a nice straight line, whereas the other row, all seemed to be pulling in towards the middle/inside and walking a little sideways and not in a straight line. Why was that?? They were not turning corners or anything, just moving straightforward.

Then the black horses in behind, man, especially that one, was sure throwing it's head a LOT like it wanted to be anywhere but there, and actually I was kind of surprised that they weren't more "well-behaved", so I guess that is because I am a timid rider, so I see/pick out the worse things, and those of you that are confident likely saw a different view of things.

Either way, I really enjoyed watching them horse drawn carriages!

 

[AnnaC]

All the horses used for parades are specially shod for 'road work', but our roads are not made for horse transport and the occasional, unfortunate slip up does happen. (when I had big horses we had the same problem) Luckily for the horse he only had a small graze on his hock and shared a bruise or two with his rider.

With the Queen's Windsor Greys, it is normal for one of the pair to be ridden, especially when there is more than one pair of horses being used to pull a carriage. With the pairs of Cleveland Bays, used to pull the following carriages, they have a normal driver sitting on the 'box' on the carriage.

There were several very early morning (in the dark/dawn!) practice runs with the horses (all of them including the ridden blacks of the household cavalry) over the route, but nothing, except perhaps previous experience, can prepare these wonderful animals for the crowds, excitement, buzz, noise on the actual day. They are all very fit and can be forgiven for a little demonstration of excitement/nerves.

Bless them all for performing their 'duties' so well and making the wedding day such a spectacle for us all.

Anna

 

[Sterling]

For the carriage horses, I think they have to be ridden because there is no driver. I saw the same thing too and thought why are these men riding the horses, then I noticed the open carriages did not have a driver. When they showed photos of the Queen and Prince William from their eye view they were looking directly at the horses back end. I too noticed how fidgety some of the horses were. The one black one next to the Cambridges tossing it's head at almost every stride. And I also noticed at one point one of the carriage horse riders tapping the horse next to him with a crop when it started acting up and immediately it settled. Beautiful horses and tack. I'll admit I kept getting distracted toward the horses and found myself watching them more than the bride and groom.

 

[Mona]

For the carriage horses, I think they have to be ridden because there is no driver. I saw the same thing too and thought why are these men riding the horses, then I noticed the open carriages did not have a driver. When they showed photos of the Queen and Prince William from their eye view they were looking directly at the horses back end. I too noticed how fidgety some of the horses were. The one black one next to the Cambridges tossing it's head at almost every stride. And I also noticed at one point one of the carriage horse riders tapping the horse next to him with a crop when it started acting up and immediately it settled. Beautiful horses and tack. I'll admit I kept getting distracted toward the horses and found myself watching them more than the bride and groom.

Yes Cheyenne, I too noticed the rider doing that with the crop and I wondered about that, but I forgot all about it until you mentioned it. AND, DUH, I guess I was so intrigued with watching the horses and trying to figure out why the riders were on them, that I didn;t even notice there was no driver on the actual carriage!

It seems like you and I had our eyes on the same horses! LOL!

 

[Sterling]

Mona...Yep!