Harry accused of animal cruelty

[Nighthawk]

^^ exactly Varya and that is what has me more upset than anything.

[sandy]

Could Harry see the horse bleeding in the midst of play? Did other players tip him off? I think more facts should be found. He may not have seen the bleeding until he got off the horse. Did another player yell your horse is bleeding?

If Harry gave up spurs for good, it would be assumed the rules being what they are others would still use  them. Horses could still be injured. Why not a movement to forbid use of spurs.

[Nighthawk]

Why not a movement to forbid use of spurs.

I would be for that movement toforbid the use of spurs by any players and in any sport.  It's cruel IMO to use spurs even if everybody is doing it.  I didn't know that they even used spurs in polo.  Now that I do I won't be supporting polo any longer

[AnneB]

Good suggestion Sandy.  I would support such a movement too.  There was an "informal" meeting at Hurlingham yesterday so it would be interesting to know what was said.  Presumably Morley was there. I believe the governing body of polo presides at Hurlingham.
I once saw a full length photograph of a rider on a polo pony with every possible contraption "aid" etc on it that anyone could possibly imagine.  It was a horrifying photograph.  But the caption was very succinct.  Only an expert could ride a horse with all these "aids" etc.  BUT AN EXPERT WOULDN'T NEED THEM.  
My heart breaks for all the ponies forced to endure similar contraptions because the nouveau rich boys (and girls) want to look good and force their ponies to do what they want.
To watch riders like the Marques of Waterford and his brother Lord Patrick Beresford was to see really superb horsemanship. Some of these newer players should watch some videos of these two players, and learn from them.

[karla64]

see photos..

http://www.iblbildarkiv.net/fotoweb/Grid.fwx?archiveId=5000&SF_LASTSEARCH=kate+and+middleton&SF_FIELD1_GROUP=1&SF_GROUP1_BOOLEAN=and&SF_FIELD1_MATCHTYPE=all&SF_SEARCHINRESULT=0&SF_FIELD1=prince+harry&doSearch.x=21&doSearch.y=6

[Gwen the Fair]

What sad photos.  :(  Granted, horses are very tough creatures, but surely his reacted in some way to being hurt like that.  I'm not going to fault Harry at all, but it looks like a deep wound, so I'm surprised he didn't notice his horse's reaction and realize the horse had been hurt.

it was an accident, might not even have been the spurs and could have been the stirrup, that's made out of metal too, should they ride horses without stirrups too?

Accident or not, the spurs need to go.  I don't think stirrups could have caused that wound considering they don't have sharp edges.  Metal in the stirrups, bit, etc., is just part of riding a horse, but spurs (even rounded) are unnecessary.