# Lost horses and stopped clocks in London **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 24, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694 "2024-04-24T11:06:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/1 "2024-04-24T11:06:16Z")
Ok, so just one stopped clock. I just liked the sound of the phrase. > **[Runaway military horses race through London, with one seemingly covered in blood](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/runaway-horses-london-blood-household-cavalry-army-rcna149113)** > > The animals broke free during regular exercises but were contained within a few hours, according to the British Army. At least four people were injured, officials said. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/2 "2024-04-24T12:01:55Z")
Runaway military horses covered in blood? Sounds like a symbolic dream at the opening of a political novel. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/3 "2024-04-24T12:54:52Z")
BBC has more [details](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-london-68888725): > We’ve started to put together a picture of how today’s events played out. > > The Army told the BBC a group of horses and riders from the Household Cavalry were on an extended exercise ahead of a Major General’s Inspection - which was due to take place tomorrow in Hyde Park. > > Every military unit taking part in the King’s birthday parade must pass a Major General’s Inspection in advance. > > The group included six soldiers and seven horses. > > During the exercise, the horses were spooked by noise from nearby building works. Four soldiers were thrown from their saddles, and five horses ran loose through London. A memorable day for a lot of people, one feels. Two of the horses were recovered 5 miles from their starting point, so at least they had a nice day out, got to see some sights. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/4 "2024-04-24T12:56:00Z")
So one might suggest that they were…Wyld Stallions? ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/5 "2024-04-24T14:57:28Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > so at least they had a nice day out, got to see some sights. Terrified out of their wits (not hard for a horse) and trying to get away from whatever scared them. Not really a nice day out. The bloody horse apparently collided with a tour bus, so some tourists will have a good tale to tell when they get home. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/6 "2024-04-24T16:31:36Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Terrified out of their wits (not hard for a horse) and trying to get away from whatever scared them. Not really a nice day out. Yes,in retrospect my claim that horses enjoy urban tourism is looking a little foolish. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/7 "2024-04-24T16:33:35Z")
I’m not a superstitious man but there is no way this is not God giving a vote of “hard no” to Rwanda bill that was passed yesterday 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/8 "2024-04-24T19:40:02Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Terrified out of their wits (not hard for a horse) and trying to get away from whatever scared them. Not really a nice day out. Not to mention galloping on pavement, especially the ones that got five miles away. There’s a real danger of road founder, a type of [laminitis](https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/laminitis) caused by excessive work on hard surfaces. They might also develop tying up (exertional rhabdomyolysis) – a painful muscle condition of the back and hindquarters caused by too much exertion for their level of fitness, which can take weeks to months to fully recover from. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2024, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/9 "2024-04-24T22:49:46Z")
I doubt it, but as they passed Aldwych House, they may have given some equine support to the Sub-Postmasters and a big neigh to the bosses at the Post Office. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/10 "2024-04-25T20:05:23Z")
[An update](https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/25/uk/london-escaped-horses-condition-gbr-scli-intl/index.html): Two of the horses were indeed seriously injured (one of them likely the bloodied gray) and have had surgery: > “Two of the injured horses were operated on last night, with one transferred to an equine hospital,” said the British Army on X Thursday. > > “Our horses receive the highest standards of care, and those that did not undergo surgery are expected to return to duty in due course.” How were they injured? The story doesn’t specify, but > According to Britain’s PA Media news agency, a Mercedes taxi that was waiting outside the Clermont Hotel on Buckingham Palace Road had its windows smashed by the spooked horses, while one of the animals shattered the windscreen of a double-decker tour bus. Between the collision injuries and what I suggested above about road founder and tying up, I would not be surprised if neither horse ever returns to duty, indeed it’s quite possible that one or both may have to be euthanized. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/11 "2024-04-25T21:23:54Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Runaway military horses covered in blood? Sounds like a symbolic dream at the opening of a political novel. Or a Patti Smith song. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/12 "2024-04-25T22:29:20Z")
I saw the construction chute that spooked them on the news. It looked like dirt, not debris coming out of it, meaning it might be one of those [Super-basement](https://youtu.be/5YquWKsi0Q8?si=hvtseiA_XwHm2dKc) projects ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/13 "2024-04-25T22:44:06Z")
So what’s the stopped clock? ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/14 "2024-04-26T00:06:58Z")
“While the pandemonium was underway, the clock in the Elizabeth Tower — more commonly known as Big Ben, the city’s most recognizable landmark and usually an icon of stability — stopped without explanation at 9 a.m.” Spooky! ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/15 "2024-04-26T03:26:47Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > it’s quite possible that one or both may have to be euthanized. Not unexpected. [![](https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/aea6ca46-4b5a-4cae-85da-0b5c06f69c0c-jpeg.442149.jpeg) ](https://www.pokerchipforum.com/attachments/aea6ca46-4b5a-4cae-85da-0b5c06f69c0c-jpeg.442149.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/16 "2024-04-26T04:51:12Z")
[![](https://i.redd.it/241j03gtb3y31.png) ](https://i.redd.it/241j03gtb3y31.png) But I really hope the horses come through OK. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2024, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/17 "2024-04-26T13:15:34Z")
Hay! There’s no horsing around at the SDMB 😃 ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/18 "2024-04-30T07:07:18Z")
The news appears to be encouraging > **[Military horses injured galloping across London making progress, army says](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/29/military-horses-injured-galloping-across-london-making-progress-army-says)** > > Quaker and Vida, who were among the animals who got loose, were hurt when they collided with vehicles but have now had surgery ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/19 "2024-04-30T15:08:23Z")
Thanks for the update! I’m glad to learn that Quaker, the black horse, is doing so well. Sounds as if he may recover fully and go back to his duties. Quaker, the grey… not so encouraging that he’s still under intensive medical observation. Even if he does pull through and regain good health, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s retired from active duty. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2024, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694/20 "2024-06-05T09:40:54Z")
Good news, according to the Army (if something spooked them before, I’d wonder if it would be wise to put them in a big event like Trooping the Colour, but I suppose the professionals know what they’re doing) [https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/06/cavalry-horses-injured-in-london-given-respite-care-by-the-horse-trust/](https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/06/cavalry-horses-injured-in-london-given-respite-care-by-the-horse-trust/) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lost-horses-and-stopped-clocks-in-london/1000694.md?page=2)