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The melancholy strains of the Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses (from the 1971 album Sticky Fingers) have been running through my head all week, ever since five steeds of the Royal Cavalry became frightened on their morning walk around the construction site. held in a mansion in Belgravia. and ran like mad through London.
Three soldiers and a cyclist were injured after the animals threw off their riders and galloped through the urban jungle, crashing into a row of parked electric scooters, a taxi and a bus. The subsequent scenes, widely shared on social media, were like a cross between that Lloyds Bank advert and a Quentin Tarantino film.
The humans were taken to the hospital and, as far as I know, are recovering. But two of the poor creatures were seriously injured: a gray horse named Vida and a black horse, named Quaker.
Three soldiers and a cyclist were injured after two horses threw their riders and galloped away through the urban jungle, crashing into a row of parked electric scooters, a taxi and a bus.
Panicked, they traveled almost six miles before being surprised in Limehouse, east London, bloodied and exhausted.
Despite the harm to both humans and animals, there was something incredibly moving about the entire incident; a reminder that nature, even in such an unforgiving urban environment, can never be truly tamed.
His fate has also captured the public’s imagination. There isn’t a single person I’ve spoken to this week who hasn’t expressed concern about the horses, and the fallout from the incident continues to shape opinion online and on air.
Some have inevitably used it as an excuse to stir up trouble. Peter Tatchell, patron of Animal Aid and supporter of Animal Defenders International, stated that “these horses are held captive as slave animals to serve the Royal Household Cavalry,” adding “FREE THEM!”
But that’s just politics… and ignorance. The idea of these animals being mistreated or “enslaved” in any way is absurd: no creature on the planet could be more loved or respected than a horse of the Royal Cavalry.
The truth is, more than a century since these animals stopped being a familiar sight on our streets, horses still occupy a unique place in our hearts. For me, it’s that combination of strength, beauty and intelligence, tinged with danger. The horse is one of the few truly amazing creatures that man has domesticated, but there is always the feeling that at any moment he could return to the wild.
That is what, in effect, happened this week. Horses are flying animals and no amount of training or conditioning can override that fundamental instinct to run when under attack.
Years ago, I was walking near South Kensington when I was struck by the unfamiliar sound of hooves over the bustle of traffic. I turned to see a magnificent bay galloping towards the traffic lights at the junction with the Natural History Museum. I realized that since horses don’t go through traffic lights, they could crash into a column of cars. It was going too fast to try to stop it, so I screamed and waved my arms to deflect it. I must have caught his attention, because he turned off down a side street. Then I called the police.
When I was young, I loved riding horses. In the end, I gave up because I was too heavy and it didn’t seem fair that a poor horse was carrying me around for my own entertainment.
But I have several friends for whom horses are not only a passion, but also their emotional and mental salvation.
One works with a charity called HorseBack UK. Founded by an ex-Marine and his wife in Aberdeenshire, it helps ex-servicemen with life-changing injuries heal their physical and mental wounds through interaction with these noble and intelligent beasts.
In partnership with the Prince’s Trust, it also helps disadvantaged young people in the community and offers support to NHS and care home staff. Their success rate is amazing.
I hope Vida, Quaker and their companions recover. May they continue to honor our capital for a long time with their impressive presence.
I have nothing but praise for the French police officer filmed cutting through a crowded boat on Dunkirk beach. They may have saved the lives of those on board. Inevitably, however, they have been accused of acting cruelly. Proof that no good deed goes unpunished in this upside-down world.
Okay, I give up. After putting away my winter coats, I’ll put them back into service. This weather is even colder and more miserable than Greta Thunberg’s. Assuming you can imagine something like that.
Are you in a bit of a pickle, Meghan?
Samantha Cohen confirmed last week that she was one of ten staff interviewed as part of Buckingham Palace’s investigation into allegations of harassment by Meghan in 2021.
Poor Meghan: despite interviewing several people for the CEO position of her new company, American Riviera Orchard, no suitable candidate has emerged. This seems rather unfortunate, especially since selling strawberry jam, napkin rings and other frivolities is not rocket science. Or perhaps there simply aren’t many prepared to take on the task, especially after his former private secretary, Samantha Cohen, confirmed last week that she was one of ten staff interviewed as part of Buckingham Palace’s investigation into allegations of harassment by Meghan in 2021. The report itself has not yet been made public. Still, one can’t help but wonder…
Lauren is a goalkeeper
Lauren Fryer, pictured with her Arsenal footballer boyfriend Declan Rice, has been mercilessly criticized online for her appearance.
What a horrible world it is to have a young mother who is criticized so mercilessly on the Internet for her appearance that she feels forced to delete all her photos and go into hiding.
Lauren Fryer, the long-term girlfriend of Arsenal and England footballer Declan Rice and full-time mother to his young son, has been the target of trolls who call her fat and ugly and suggest that Rice, now so successful, “might do better.” ‘.
How to pray? Trading his childhood sweetheart and the mother of his child for a surgically enhanced gold digger with plastic breasts and Botox for brains?
Some people are not only sick, but they are also incredibly thick.
I hate to say it, but London is now an anti-Semitic city.
It has finally happened. Yesterday, a peaceful anti-Semitism rally was canceled because it clashed with a pro-Palestine rally and the police said – despite the previous rally receiving “numerous threats” – there was not enough risk of unrest to justify banning the Palestinian march. .
Last week, a police officer reprimanded a man for being “openly Jewish” near a pro-Palestinian march; Meanwhile, there have been nearly 200 arrests at these so-called “peace” marches, mostly for hate speech, as well as 15 terrorism-related arrests on suspicion of supporting Hamas.
There is only one conclusion: London is now officially an anti-Semitic city. Take a bow, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Mayor Sadiq Khan: you are both an absolute disgrace.
The furor over Marks & Spencer’s £6 egg and mayonnaise sandwich (which has since been reduced to a bargain £5) is a salutary reminder of how absurd takeaway food prices have become. It’s not just Marks – the other day at Pret they charged me almost £8 for a soup and a pastry. As for £3.95 for a flat white (at my local ‘artisan’ cafe), you’d have to be pissed. For me it’s back to the lunchbox.
