A quiet morning taking Kitty May out for a short hack in the Forest. The reins were on the Dually to begin with and on the bit by the end. She's such a good girl.
"I didn't expect to see her out for a hack! G met me at the door when I got back from WI clutching a print-off of her under saddle. Looked just like a proud dad!" JP
A slightly rowdier afternoon being part of Rent a Crowd for the Hampshire Fire Service Animal Rescue Team who were today providing training for the Household Cavalry. The Cavalry might find themselves in a rescue situation in central London, surrounded by crowds, if anything happened to one of their horses or indeed at any of the shows where they give displays. They need to know how to react under the critical eye of the general public and apparently knowledgeable horse people.They might also be asked to provide assistance in other people's catastrophes.
The scenario today was horrendous. Two carriage horses had taken off spooking a ridden horse so that he ended up caught in the safety barriers with a member of the public entrapped below him. One of the carriage horses ends up straddling a post and rail fence, his weight supported partially by the carriage and his partner trapped underneath it having been fatally injured.
There was a cheer from the crowd as the Cavalry arrived. You may think they should be running but that might upset the horses even more.
Barbara is insistent that she should be allowed to get close up to the action and later she is pushed away when she tries to intervene.
Meanwhile Kay has fainted with shock...
The most serious casualty, Diane, is strapped to a body board to protect her back. However they knew she was alive because she had been screaming at the very top of her voice.
The Household Cavalry vet had her work cut out maintaining sedation and anaesthesia for the two horses and euthanising the third.
Preparing the horse for removal to a safe place for recovery. The blanket over his face protects his eye as he is moved across the ground.
Meanwhile the second horse is prepared for lifting...
...as soon as his weight is supported they can remove the carriage and get to the poor horse underneath who has already been put to sleep.
...and now he's flying high...
...and so are they since the exercise is over.
"Just a quick email to say a Big Thank You to everyone. The exercise ran very well & I hope you all enjoyed it regardless of the weather! It really does make a massive difference having real people involved, really appreciate you all giving up your time today."JC
