Prince Harry faces animal cruelty claim!

Interesting that none of the other (visible) players are wearing spurs!
But have to say, A lot of them probably get blood injuries, its just that he is on a grey where it is highly visible!
Nae luck Harry....
 
BL00DY RIDICULUS... NO, It's not nice and he should have stopped playing once he noticed, but come on... ' a stab wound ' how stupid... They're acting like he took his spur off and stabbed the horse with it... Horses do get spur marks sometimes, at Hickstead there was one guy riding with bandage pads over them where they were so bad... Needless to say he was not pulled up on this....

:(

x
 
Hum.. hardly a 'puncture' wound.. but still not very nice.

He is the only one with spurs on, but then we don't know the horse so we can't comment on the requirements of the spurs..

Spur rubs + blood are quiet common in jumping and dressage, so not totally alone in the injury.

I can see why he continued to ride.. because quiet honestly.. he probably hadnt noticed!

The wound would have been properly care for after the match and the horse would of been rested..

So althought not a very nice thing to happen, He won't be the first, certainly not the last, and not really a major welfare issue (unless your the prince of course....)

Lou x
 
I don't really have an opinion on the matter. But the polo rule book does state that spurs may be worn. but NOT to be used with excessive force.
 
Its probably a bit of an over reaction but its still not a nice injury.

Any sports person or horse shouldnt be injured, made sore or bleed by the equipment used.
 
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Seen spur 'wounds' on horses where the spurs have definately not been used excessively, it was a case of those horses having finer skin than others.

I don't use spurs because I don't need them, but I accept that if I do, I may mark the horse. It certainly won't be on purpose and I'll do all I can to take care of the horse and to try and ensure it doesn't happen again.

How many people who would decry the prince, have never marked or 'hurt' their horse in some way? A rub from a bit, an over enthusiastic flinging on of a rug, pulling a mane/tail (where the horse doesn't like it), etc.

Not condoning what has happened, but pointing out that none of us are perfect ;):cool:
 
My horse gets spur marks and they are not stab wounds. In fact, if I take my blinking spurs off, his sides still get bald/raw from the use of my leg. He is very sensitive skinned :(
 
I've seen worse, but still doesn't make it right. It made me chuckle when they tried to defend it, saying it was another riders boot buckle, what riding boots have buckles on them ? You can clearly see its from the spur, maybe he should get ones with the balls on, they do the black plastic/rubber balls and I noticed Mark Todd does metal ones in the Ride Away catalogue.
 
Don't really think in the greater scheme of things that it is a cruelty case. Some horses are thinner skinned and it has happened to me. And I was shocked when noticed on my horse.

Sure Harry didn't stab !! his pony deliberately. Considering some of the animal cruelty that goes on in this country and the world, maybe the newspapers could spend their time highlighting those that are starving and neglected imo.
 
I do think there is a difference between 'marking' a horse and puncturing the skin and making it bleed. On t.v it was clear this is a puncture wound.


One of the comments made me giggle on the link!
Something like:

"it's only a horse/pony as long as it provides entertainment for the sportsmen, and as long as Harry doesn't fall off and hurt himself, fingers crossed!" LOL :D

But in the grand scheme of things, It is hardly an abuse case. He just needs to take the spurs off.
 
Really........C'mon! In that type of game that is likely to happen. I bet it has happened lots of times before, but because it is royalty only now they are getting upetty about it. I can see how it would happen though, as they are long and if he was gripping and leaning in for a hit etc. To say it is a stab wound make out that he did a PC kick wearing spurs - I would think he is knowledgable enough not to do that.

I see nothing wrong with using spurs, however, they are a tad long. Maybe half that length would be more suitable - especially for a contact sport. I was told by one that spurs are for folk that cant use their leg properly, but then by another that they were a refinement of the leg aid - for when 2 instructions are so similar (like in higher up dressage where it has to be a very specific instruction)

I wear spurs, but I only need them on for 5 mins and I can take them off and the pudding still thinks I am wearing them!
 
R2R said:
My horse gets spur marks and they are not stab wounds. In fact, if I take my blinking spurs off, his sides still get bald/raw from the use of my leg. He is very sensitive skinned :(
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Ditto this. Not often or on purpose of course!

OFFS. People need to get a grip. I'm sure he was sat there stabbing his spur in his poor horse....I mean...it can't just be an accidental rub surely....Pfffft.

Screams PETA much?!?
 
The Daily Mail has done this before.

I remember one Saturday they published a scathing article on Harry then on the Sunday a glowing one completely contradicting what was said in the previous article and they were written by the same person! It was a few years back now but it has stuck...
 
I am not a big fan of Prince Harry, but this is yet another case of sensationalist reporting! Spurs can mark some horses easier than others because of their sensitive skin, the same horse may be fine at some times of year but more sensitive on others as the coat is changing and some horses require more leg on some days if they are being resistent. Once you realise you have marked the horse you should take off the spurs or use rubber ones, but it's not an easy injury to spot from the saddle!

BTW I marked R on Tuesday because he did not want to bend right and I overused my spur, this is the first time I have marked him in 4 years, the skin healed over the same day, hairs are growing in the area already and he has no problem being ridden with softer (rubber spurs) since.
 
I think its a rather large over reaction tbh! The article did my laugh though which is why I shared it, but there are so much larger cases of animal cruelty and I odn't understand why this one has been blown out of proportion when you could ask anyone non horsey about Spindles farm and they would have no idea what your talking about!
 
quirky said:
This happened in July, it's a non news story imo.
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And its only just been published? Says it all really.

Harry's been snapped losing his temper and throwing his stick *away* from the horse before, hasn't he? There were a lot of uphauled people then too.

Only thing I'd say is does anyone else think his leg had to be (and is in one of the snaps) awfully far back in order to be able to cause that injury there? I've not used spurs for years, but my best guess would be it occured because his legs were too far back. Naughty Harry, back to lessons for you!
 
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