Shame of Cavalry troops

By Valentine Low, Evening Standard
25 February 2005

An investigation has been launched into a string of allegations against soldiers from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment - including claims that they got a horse drunk on strong lager.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed it is looking into reports that members of the regiment - the most senior in the British Army - were also high on drugs during Trooping the Colour, stole from shows where they performed and subjected new recruits to degrading initiation ceremonies.

The accusations are the latest embarrassment for the regiment, which has the unique privilege of carrying out ceremonial duties on state and royal occasions. A report last week claimed five guardsmen filmed themselves in an orgy with a girl in army quarters.

Today's allegations in The Sun have been made by a cavalryman of more than five years' service. He claimed that before one parade in Zurich, a gelding called Unknown was given eight cans of lager to drink "shotgun fashion", in which the can is shaken up and sprayed into its mouth. The soldier said: "Unknown managed to perform all right but as he got back to the stables he collapsed. It was quite a common thing to get the horses pissed. The idea was that they'd throw the rider. But it really upset me. They are such loyal and obedient creatures, they didn't deserve it."

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/16871193?source=Evening%20Standard

MAYBE this is the Abu Ghraib branch of the regiment...

Frankly, if these fools want to snort white powder up their own noses before performing for American holiday makers then thats their problem, and the Army can deal with them as they seem fit.

Throwing horse dung over new recruits isn't my cup of tea, but they are hardly the only organisation that does this sort of thing to new members.

Getting a horse drunk to the extent that it collapses is going too far, because it involves an unwilling party, even if it is an animal.

These officers should be sacked immediately. That is cruel and inhumane treatment of those beautiful animals. I hope that the British animal rights groups raise hell about this. I'm sure that QEII, who is a great horsewoman, is very unhappy about this.

Not officers, not that this excuses them at all.

Stupid hijinks for the most part, but mistreating the animals is too much.

Send in the RSPCA!