Houston police horse injures two at parade

[Anne FS]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6890355

You'd think people in Houston might know better, but apparently not. A police horse spooked and trampled someone and it's reported as:

"The first incident happened at the corner of Westheimer and Stanford. Spectators lined the sidewalks when suddenly one of the animals attacked."

Another woman gets an ankle boo-boo and oh, the humanity......

[Arizona DQ]

Good grief! "The horse attacked".. give me a break! :lol:

You would think any sane person would know to get out of the way when a horse starts to act up??? These are just a bunch of idiots. I am sure the horse is sorry and would be happy to apologize......:mad:

[vacation1]

:rolleyes: Oh, nice. Are you kidding? The one woman got hurt pretty bad - anything that leads to dental surgery is, in my book, a bad injury. I don't know exactly what happened, but the police department could have at least extended some sympathy to the two people hurt by their horses. Experienced people dealing with familiar horses get hurt all the time; blaming these two women for getting sideswiped by police horses is just ridiculous.

And complaining that the news didn't hook in to the lingo? Please. Attacked is probably the wrong word, but 'spooked' is not a word that you can use for a non-horsey audience.

[ESG]

The horse didn't "attack", as anyone can see that watched the video. He hopped up and down a few times. And with as many people pressed in around him as there appeared to be, I'm surprised it's only one or two that got "trampled" (:rolleyes: ). Horsey or not, how stupid do you have to be, to get that close to a huge, crowd controlling animal?!?!?

You're quite right, Anne FS - people in Houston do know better. Makes me think that these ladies might be looking for a little (or a big) monetary apology from the HPD. :winkgrin:

[amastrike]

Attacked implies intent to harm. I'm pretty sure that horse didn't intend to harm anyone.

Too bad for the woman who needs plastic surgery, though. The police should pay the medical bills.

[grayarabs]

I read this in yesterday's paper and did a little research online searching for more details.
Found this:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/19890912/detail.html
(comments under the article)

http://missgingergrant.blogspot.com/2009/06/houston-pride-dampened-by-injury.html

[jackalini]

Egads, an ankle the size of a tennis ball? Wah wah. If she really wants to know what could have happened, she should come on here and read our posts. I'll offer up my horse related injuries: 2 cracked ribs, a concussion, a broken toe, and NUMEROUS bruises, sprains and twists. I sure as heck don't have PTSD due to any of those.

I do feel bad that anyone was injured - especially the woman with the facial injuries.

It happens, but the horse certainly didn't attack. It spooked and unfortunately, those 2 were in the path of escape. I feel badly that anyone was hurt, but the lady with the ankle injury is being a tad overly dramatic. I hope that the medical bills of both women are paid for by the city, but I hope it stops there.

I hope it wasn't caused by someone else on the parade hitting the horse with debris or a projectile, but well, horses are horses - they aren't scooters or cars that always do what they are supposed to. I think Houston people know this.

[Anne FS]

:And complaining that the news didn't hook in to the lingo? Please. Attacked is probably the wrong word, but 'spooked' is not a word that you can use for a non-horsey audience.

Completely disagree. ANYBODY can understand "spooked" - I know from experience non-horsey people get that term right away. "Attacked"? TOTALLY different.

And I'm not blaming the woman. The woman who got knocked down, it certainly seems as though it wasn't her fault, and I feel badly for her. The ankle woman just wants to be on TV, so for that one I have no sympathy. My objection is to the reporter and the "friend" talking about an "attack." If they are alleging police brutality, then out with it and let's deal with that. Are they insinuating that the police accidentally-on-purpose ran them over? If not that, then shut up with the "attack" nonsense.

[Glimmerglass]

... but 'spooked' is not a word that you can use for a non-horsey audience.

Spooked is not exactly a word used only by those with advanced degrees. Let's get real here. Further are you really saying people in Houston Texas are that disconnected to horses that they wouldn't grasp the need to move from a horse that's been frightened? City born and bred folks in Chicago, Boston, New York ... they'd get it.

[Beverley]

Well, in my youth in Houston I routinely rode horses not too far from that spot, but my, times have changed everywhere. One has to assume that pretty much everyone is totally clueless about horse behavior and potential injuries from same, even when they don't mean to hurt you.

The video isn't great- clearly the horse is spooking though, which does beg a training question. Also looked to me, in the video, like the horse was on the sidewalk side of the barricade, not the street side, so I'm a little confused- if as the print reports suggest the woman crossed the barricade to the street side, and that's where the horse was, well, shame on her. If the horse had holes in its training and was on the sidewalk side, not good procedure for the cops IMO.

When I let a few hundred kids pet my horse before a parade start a few weeks ago- their parents were COMPLETELY clueless as to the dangers. More than once I looked back to see tiny feet in flip flops, inches from hind hooves, petting wherever they could reach, with parents right behind them. I had to FREQUENTLY say- everybody come up to the horse's head, he can't see you back there and it really will hurt if he accidentally steps on you.

And, God bless my horse, by the last parade last Thursday night, when he was the flag carrier for the first time, he had figured out all by himself to Just Stop Moving when toddlers made mad, and unsupervised dashes, to the center of the street, to pick up candy tossed from the carriage in front of me. Frankly- if something behind my horse had caused him to spook forward- a kid COULD have been seriously hurt but for his new found skill.

[Beverley]

Spooked is not exactly a word used only by those with advanced degrees. Let's get real here. Further are you really saying people in Houston Texas are that disconnected to horses that they wouldn't grasp the need to move from a horse that's been frightened? City born and bred folks in Chicago, Boston, New York ... they'd get it.

Glimmer- you have no idea just how few native Texans exist in Houston these days.:)

When I tried to go to an Astros v. Cubs game last summer, thinking to myself, the Astros NEVER sell out, can get tix day of game- no such luck. There are now so many Cubs fans in town that THEY buy all the tickets!

And yes, people everywhere are clueless about horses, anymore.

[Katie-Nicole]

I wonder how much alcohol played into the injuries...

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

None of us really know what happened. But I can imagine it might be hard to avoid a spooked horse in a packed crowd.

[Ambrey]

OMG, haven't you ever seen that TV show "When Ponies Attack?" Those things are dangerous!

(sorry, Junie B Jones reference, if you do not have or have never had a 6 year old girl it will make no sense ;))

[woodcat]

I'm sure we all have tons of stories about how folks ignorant of horses will put themselves in harms way.
I suppose the crowd control horses are supposed to be bomb proof, but maybe somebody poked him or something.

[bort84]

I like how the one lady says she starts shaking everytime she thinks about the hoof coming down on her foot... Um, preparing for a lawsuit much? Sheesh. Sure, the cops may not have been very polite to her, and that's unfortunate (more for them avoid lawsuits than anything else). But really, the pride parade in Houston is quite an event, and people are drinking and careless. The cops are doing their best to keep order, and sometimes accidents happen.

I really cannot get mad at any police officers working during events like that. After several Mardi Gras while living in New Orleans, you have to respect how difficult and thankless that job is.

Yes, these bills should be paid for by HPD without question, but to act like this is some tragedy is just ridiculous. There are police horses on my walk to work (downtown) probably 50% of the time. They are all very well behaved and polite to the casual passerby that wants to stop to chat and pet. They tolerate the stupid Houston drivers without any problems and the officers always wish me a good morning. I hate to see this kind of stuff happen. Makes me prefer my animal companions far more than most humans, haha.

[RacetrackReject]

Oh dear. I know people who donated a paint horse to the Houston Police Department and it looks like it was a paint that was acting up. I hope it is not their horse, but couldn't really tell from the video.

[saultgirl]

I certainly hope the women get their medical bills paid. I would sue the pants off the cops if, for example, I was bitten by a police dog because it was not under control.

[perpetual_novice]

I read this in yesterday's paper and did a little research online searching for more details.
Found this:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/19890912/detail.html
(comments under the article)

http://missgingergrant.blogspot.com/2009/06/houston-pride-dampened-by-injury.html

Thank you for the link to Miss Ginger's blog. What a hoot! (And what a very sensible account of the incident.)

[TBMaggie]

Loved Miss Ginger's take on the 'plastic trinket diving' woman who ignored the barracades and then 'tripped' over herself when confronted by the mounted police:lol::lol:

Feel 'kinda' bad for the injuries, but am getting sick of our sue-happy world. Hopefully, some judge out there will at least deem these two women partially responsible for what happened to them. People ARE clueless when it comes to horses - and we're in a 'protect us from ourselves' kind of world (hot coffee between legs at McD's lawsuit). Sigh

Several years ago, a bunch of us from a boarding stable decided that it would be cool to ride our horses in the local 4th of July parade - all of us had seasoned show horses, so we thought the parade would be a piece of cake. Oh My were we wrong:eek::eek: My horse came flying out of the horse trailer, and never stopped running in circles around me long enough to get near her with the saddle....we ended up sitting (or running)out the parade in the parking lot. Rest of the horses/riders fell by the wayside along the parade route - one rider got dumped, one horse/rider baulked after the first band started playing, and one horse decided to forge a new parade route through the throngs of people sitting/lining the street. "Through" the people - not so much. "On top of the people" was more like it. Horsie took out 2 people, one a child. All lived, but had serious injuries. And you can bet that the horse's owner got sued.

People, especially people who come to watch parades, are totally clueless! And after what happened to my fellow boarding buddies that day, I'm always surprised that horses are even allowed in parades. (This all happened over 20 years ago - so nothings changed.)

[Sonesta]

Oh, this makes me so mad. That reporter should be fired. "..when suddenly one of the animals attacked." That is completely irresponsible sensationalism trash, not journalism.

I just sent Channel 13 a blast about it. Told them they should all turn in their journalism diplomas and apologize to their journalism professors, as they have now joined the ranks of the National Enquirer, et al.

As a former police officer who worked mounted patrol many times, I can tell you that drunken fools at parades are almost impossible to control. They move back as you PUSH them back and then flow back into the streets like water as you pass. That idiot has only herself to blame for not moving and then falling when the officer walked the line to try and move backthe crowd.

And then the dimwitted "friend" who gets on TV to describe how the horse was stomping her into the ground (like it was completely intentional). I am outraged at the media for this.

[JollyBadger]

The media is more about creating drama than news.

The horse ATTACKED? Really? Seriously?

Not to suggest that everyone ought to be as "in the know" when it comes to horse behavior and horse-related vocabulary. . .but even non-horsey people living in urban areas should have the sense to yield to police officers on horseback.

[Curb Appeal]

Oh come on people!!! None of you have ever been stepped on or knocked down my a horse? Yes, the use of the word "attacked" is stupid, but this horse DID injure the woman. The general public has the right to expect that police officers are in control of their horses, and I doubt that it is too easy to get away from an out of control horse when in a crowded situation.

I hope these women heal quickly and get their medical bills covered by the city.

[Sonesta]

Oh come on people!!! None of you have ever been stepped on or knocked down my a horse? Yes, the use of the word "attacked" is stupid, but this horse DID injure the woman. The general public has the right to expect that police officers are in control of their horses, and I doubt that it is too easy to get away from an out of control horse when in a crowded situation.

I hope these women heal quickly and get their medical bills covered by the city.

There is NO EVIDENCE that the horse was spooked or otherwise out of control when the woman was injured. The video clip was NOT of the incident and may not be even of the horse that stepped on her. It was random footage.

I can tell you that when the mounted patrol comes along the side of the road (walking the line, they call it) they are shouting at the crowd to get back off the road. They then walk VERY SLOWLY along the side. Anyone who does not move IS going to get stepped on or pushed aside.

What do you want the cops to do? Ask politely and then back off when the people blantantly refuse to move and ignore the request???

[ESG]

CurbAppeal, better back off on this one. Sonesta knows whereof she speaks, better than most.

This stupid, stupid woman, as Miss Ginger's blog said, decided that a plastic trinket was more important than her (or anyone else's) safety. I'm sorry she got hurt, but I think it was her own damned fault. I think the HPD should have apologized for the horse stepping on her, and then ticketed her sorry ass for disobeying a direct order from a police officer.

Oh, and she can pay her own damned medical bills. "Plastic surgery"?!?!? Please. :rolleyes:

[saultgirl]

There is NO EVIDENCE that the horse was spooked or otherwise out of control when the woman was injured. The video clip was NOT of the incident and may not be even of the horse that stepped on her. It was random footage.

Um, if you are suggesting the police officer had complete control over his horse at the time and it wasn't an accident, don't you think that might be considered excessive force? Smash someone into the pavement and knock their teeth out because they stepped off the curb?

I can tell you that when the mounted patrol comes along the side of the road (walking the line, they call it) they are shouting at the crowd to get back off the road. They then walk VERY SLOWLY along the side. Anyone who does not move IS going to get stepped on or pushed aside.

For the lady with the injured ankle, ok, yes, you have described what could have very well happened.

What do you want the cops to do? Ask politely and then back off when the people blantantly refuse to move and ignore the request???

You're right, the cops should knock them down and trample them with their horses :no:


Has anyone here EVER been in a crowded area where people are pushing and you would love to get out of the way but you just CAN'T??


I wasn't there, so I don't know what exactly happened.

[Curb Appeal]

The blog I read said the police whistled at this woman when she stepped off the curb. This indicates to me that the saw her and that she did not just leap out in front of the horse. If knocking her down was an accident, then they should apologize and cover her bills. If it was intentional and they are using their horses as weapons to battle a curb jumping, then they are out of line. I am not saying that this woman did nothing wrong, but it is the responsiblity of the police officer to be the better person, use a little discretion, and properly manage the situation.

For the record, I have never been a mounted officer, but I have been in various aspects of law enforcement for many years. I have trained with a well known mounted police trainer, and I am 1 semester away from a degree in law enforcement. I am not a cop hater. I am just a fan of common sense and not jumping to conclusions or blaming the victim.

[Sonesta]

The blog I read said the police whistled at this woman when she stepped off the curb. This indicates to me that the saw her and that she did not just leap out in front of the horse. If knocking her down was an accident, then they should apologize and cover her bills. If it was intentional and they are using their horses as weapons to battle a curb jumping, then they are out of line. I am not saying that this woman did nothing wrong, but it is the responsiblity of the police officer to be the better person, use a little discretion, and properly manage the situation.

For the record, I have never been a mounted officer, but I have been in various aspects of law enforcement for many years. I have trained with a well known mounted police trainer, and I am 1 semester away from a degree in law enforcement. I am not a cop hater. I am just a fan of common sense and not jumping to conclusions or blaming the victim.

Congratulations on your upcoming degree, but you are about to find that people are not sensible nor do many respect the police. You may well find yourself in this kind of situation (where you must decide in a split second how to handle the blatant refusal of a person or people to follow your orders that affect a larger group). Better decide right now how you are going to handle it.

And I am just about certain the officer did not intentionally send her sprawling. Sounds like she thought getting a trinket was more important than following orders to move even though she KNEW the horses were walking through. She lost her balance and fell forward. Unfortunate, but certainly not the cop's fault.

But my problem with all this is how the media has turned it into such a mess that even people like you are thinking the officers were "using their horses as weapons." And referring to this woman as a "victim."

[drmgncolor]

I hope these women heal quickly and get their medical bills covered by the city.

You mean by the Houston taxpayers...

[JSwan]

Sounds like she thought getting a trinket was more important than following orders to move even though she KNEW the horses were walking through. She lost her balance and fell forward. Unfortunate, but certainly not the cop's fault.

But my problem with all this is how the media has turned it into such a mess that even people like you are thinking this officer "using their horses as weapons."

Thank you for not using the word "journalism". Not a word I'd use to describe this event unless the word 'yellow' is placed in front of it.

The 'victim' has hit the lottery. Dollar signs in her eyes. Yup - she's going to get a trinket all right.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

All the folks thinking this is so wonderful - this is the type of crap that ends up making horse activities impossible to insure. Ever wonder why a favorite show venue disappears? No trail riding allowed on a neighbors land? Your own insurance premiums double in one year even though you haven't had any claims?

Next time you're asked to sign a release for a show or event - try asking the organizer how much EACH signed release costs in actual dollars spent. Maybe you'll stop bitching about costs for showing and think long and hard about tort reform.

[perpetual_novice]

...

But my problem with all this is how the media has turned it into such a mess that even people like you are thinking the officers were "using their horses as weapons." And referring to this woman as a "victim."

I have seen a televised report of a startling instance when police could be described as using "horses as weapons". The event was in Belgium and so I imagine it must have been some sort of protest about the EU issue de jour.

Anyhow the crowd was warned to disperse. When they didn't the police officers trotted off some distance and then turned as a unit and charged the group at a brisk canter. The crowd scattered.

I don't think that anyone was hurt. (The report originated from a European newscast and no one seemed particularly perturbed by the incident.)

By comparison referring to the normal use of police horses in crowd control as weapons, such as in the Houston parade, seems a little over the top.

[Curb Appeal]

You mean by the Houston taxpayers...

Yes. Taxpayers pay for city services, therefore the foot the bill when these things happen.

[pAin't_Misbehavin']

I just read the linked blog, which appears to have been written by an eyewitness.

So now I'm wondering - if the city was trying to keep people out of the actual parade route (and the use of mounted police certainly suggests they were) then why the heck were parade participants allowed to chuck "plastic trinkets" off the floats in the first place? It seems like working at cross-purposes to me.

I don't know the answer. This is why I avoid large crowds - people get hurt in them. I guess unmounted police would be at greater risk of injury trying to control the crowd, but it also seems that the use of horses puts individuals in the crowd at greater risk.

Of course, no question that the TV news was inaccurate and hysterical. Isn't it nearly always?

[Brandy76]

Thank you for not using the word "journalism". Not a word I'd use to describe this event unless the word 'yellow' is placed in front of it.

The 'victim' has hit the lottery. Dollar signs in her eyes. Yup - she's going to get a trinket all right.

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

All the folks thinking this is so wonderful - this is the type of crap that ends up making horse activities impossible to insure. Ever wonder why a favorite show venue disappears? No trail riding allowed on a neighbors land? Your own insurance premiums double in one year even though you haven't had any claims?

Next time you're asked to sign a release for a show or event - try asking the organizer how much EACH signed release costs in actual dollars spent. Maybe you'll stop bitching about costs for showing and think long and hard about tort reform.

I've been to this parade, and other events like it.. MANY drunken people - which is fine, but yeah, do we want to lose every horse event because of stuff like this?? Sheesh.

[saultgirl]

The blog I read said the police whistled at this woman when she stepped off the curb. This indicates to me that the saw her and that she did not just leap out in front of the horse. If knocking her down was an accident, then they should apologize and cover her bills. If it was intentional and they are using their horses as weapons to battle a curb jumping, then they are out of line. I am not saying that this woman did nothing wrong, but it is the responsiblity of the police officer to be the better person, use a little discretion, and properly manage the situation.

I totally agree.

[JSwan]

I have seen a televised report of a startling instance when police could be described as using "horses as weapons".

Old cavalry tactic used to scatter infantry. Not intended to trample them - just intended to disperse them. Makes the mob less dangerous.

I agree - it's over the top to refer to an officer's mount as being used to "attack". It's not a freakin' grizzly bear separated from her cub.:lol:

[Curb Appeal]

Congratulations on your upcoming degree, but you are about to find that people are not sensible nor do many respect the police. You may well find yourself in this kind of situation (where you must decide in a split second how to handle the blatant refusal of a person or people to follow your orders that affect a larger group). Better decide right now how you are going to handle it.

And I am just about certain the officer did not intentionally send her sprawling. Sounds like she thought getting a trinket was more important than following orders to move even though she KNEW the horses were walking through. She lost her balance and fell forward. Unfortunate, but certainly not the cop's fault.

But my problem with all this is how the media has turned it into such a mess that even people like you are thinking the officers were "using their horses as weapons." And referring to this woman as a "victim."

Oh believe me, I know people are stupid and many do not respect the police. I also know that a whole lot of police officers are also stupid and do not respect the general public. Seeing only the worst in people is an unfortunate side effect of any amount of time in law enforcement. What gets me is some people's inability to even consider the possibility that this officer may have made a bad call and that this woman may have been injured, not intentionally, but through the actions of the horse or inactions of the rider. Someone has to take the "devil's advocate" stance here.

I do ABSOLUTLEY agree that the media has sensationalized the situation and I would not doubt at all that the woman may be exaggerating her injuries, but if she was injured, she should have her medical costs covered. This woman is the "victim" of this incident. By definition, victim does not imply innocence, only that she was the one who was injured.

[TinkerBells]

Completely disagree. ANYBODY can understand "spooked" - I know from experience non-horsey people get that term right away. "Attacked"? TOTALLY different.

And I'm not blaming the woman. The woman who got knocked down, it certainly seems as though it wasn't her fault, and I feel badly for her. The ankle woman just wants to be on TV, so for that one I have no sympathy. My objection is to the reporter and the "friend" talking about an "attack." If they are alleging police brutality, then out with it and let's deal with that. Are they insinuating that the police accidentally-on-purpose ran them over? If not that, then shut up with the "attack" nonsense.

Ditto.

[Ambrey]

Don't public entities have insurance to cover these things?

It sounds like it was an accident, probably not with the entire fault lying on either party.

[Sonesta]

It sounds like it was an accident, probably not with the entire fault lying on either party.

I agree, but the d*mned media made it sound like the officer intentionally and with malice aforethought ATTACKED the woman with his horse. Or that the police have vicious horses that randomly attack the public. And this sort of yellow journalism reporting is what stirs up the public and turns the situation into a such a public mess. That is my gripe.

[Ambrey]

I agree, any mention of "attack" is ridiculous. When a dog steps on you, it's not the same as when it bites you- and if a horse really attacks you, I suspect you'll know it ;)

[LexInVA]

Quite frankly, I don't think the public cares nor will they give the matter any additional thought beyond the 15 seconds of pondering after they read the report or watch the news bit. People don't get riled up about the majority of things they see on the news unless it directly affects them in some tangible way.

[Aggie4Bar]

I saw the televised report and almost lost my dinner upon hearing, "... and that's when the animal ATTACKED!" That's so typical for ABC though. It's the All Bullsh*t Channel and has been for a very long time.

[vacation1]

Dunno exactly what happened, but while it's understandable that HPD would be in CYA mode, it's not exactly heartwarming, and it doesn't really bolster their claims that the whole thing was simply a misbehaving citizen who got bumped by a police horse and smashed her head against a curb.

I'm not sure where people are getting the idea that the woman was in the street grabbing for throwaway trinkets? I mean, the first paragraph here mentions beads being thrown, but it's not stated that she was running after them, just that she was watching the parade. The blog claims she was running after the stuff, but doesn't say where that information came from.

An 'attack' free news story...

Kirste Reimers didn’t notice the policemen approaching on horseback from her left. Her eyes were fixed on the festive pageantry on her right, where sequins glittered and bright beads sailed from floats in the annual Pride Houston Parade.

The three mounted Houston police officers were sweeping the edge of Westheimer, trying to keep pedestrians from spilling off the sidewalks and into the street during the Saturday night parade, which winds through the heart of Montrose.

Oblivious to the patrol, the 50-year-old Montrose resident suddenly found herself under the horse’s hooves, where her husband says she was kicked and stomped, bruising most of her body, splitting her chin open, knocking out teeth and slamming her head against the asphalt.

She spent Saturday night in the emergency room, where doctors stitched up the front of her chin but said the cut was so deep it extended to the inside of her mouth, and will likely require plastic surgery to repair.

“We were just standing there clapping, watching the floats go by,” said Bill Maxey, Reimers’ husband. “It was unnecessary.”

Witnesses said it looked like one of the three horses got spooked as police led them close by the edge of the crowd.

Robert Jaworski was watching the parade with his family, along Westheimer near Stanford, when he saw the horse whirling wildly, trampling the woman under its rear hooves. He rushed to help Reimers, whom he does not know, and was among several people who pulled her up from the street. She was covered in blood.

“It didn’t appear that they had good control of those animals,” Jaworski said. “I was just a little taken aback. The crowd wasn’t unruly by any means. People were either residents or older couples — not the young, rowdy crowd.”

Police say the officers, and the horses, were just doing their jobs. The woman wasn’t kicked, stepped on or trampled, HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva said.

“It was a normal maneuver and an unfortunate accident that this woman was knocked over,” said police spokeswoman Jodi Silva. “Our horses are well-trained for this type of situation.”

The officer, P. Hernandez, and his horse, Kato, urged Reimers to the sidewalk, Silva said. “Officer Hernandez was shouting at her and moving forward slowly on his horse,” Silva said. “He continued to tell her to move back (and then) Kato accidentally bumped into her.”

Maxey, sounding grim after a sleepless night, said he was grateful his wife was alive, but upset at what she had endured.

“Between the missing teeth and the almost certain plastic surgery, this ordeal has just begun for her,” he said. “I understand the need for crowd control. But this was excessive.”

[Beverley]

It's the All Bullsh*t Channel and has been for a very long time.

Yeah. Sorry to see the decline at least as far as KTRK in Houston goes. Back in the day, the station manager was a friend of my Dad's and our families did stuff together. Bet 'who was Kiterik?' is an unanswerable trivia question for most in Houston today.:)

[SGray]

Yeah. Sorry to see the decline at least as far as KTRK in Houston goes. Back in the day, the station manager was a friend of my Dad's and our families did stuff together. Bet 'who was Kiterik?' is an unanswerable trivia question for most in Houston today.:)

you are showing your age there girl

[JSwan]

Hmmmmm.... that 'attack free' version is telling.

Not saying cops are saints or perfect.... but if a cop is yelling at someone to cease doing whatever it is they're doing and has to keep yelling at them and has to move forward/come closer because the person is not obeying the instruction and is in continual violation....

Sorry folks - I'm going to tend to side with the coppers. Horse or not. Never happy to see anyone hurt for any reason of course.

But this crap is what creates the impression that horses and horse related activities are just not worth insuring or holding. Horses as dangerous animals that should not be allowed in public or on the roads or in parks.

[saultgirl]

It would have been a lot easier for us horse folks had they just been tasering people along the front of the crowd. Or maybe they should just walk along the edge of the crowd swinging a baseball bat -- if you don't get out the way, not the cops fault if your face gets smashed in!

It now seems that there are a few accounts indicating the woman with the serious injuries was not aware of the police being there before the incident happened... so how is one supposed to follow the directions of a police officer if the officer doesn't get their attention first??

[grayarabs]

Sorta waiting to see if someone had caught the scene on video.
This parade was at night? Isn't that a bit unusual?
FWIW I am unfortunately old enough to remember Kiterick (sp?) - was it Karousel or something - where kids had their birthday parties on that show? If yes - I did that - my birthday - but that obviously many years ago - so my memory a bit foggy.

[grayarabs]

I found this but cannot get it to load:
http://www.chron.com/life/photogallery/Meet_the_horses_of_HPD_mounted_patrol.html

I don't recall reading any reports that Kato or the other horses were "acting up" anywhere else along the parade route. Did he seem to be spooky just that area? If yes, why?
The reports vary on where Reimers was situated and what she was doing. Facts would be nice.

[Arizona DQ]

I am just a fan of common sense and not jumping to conclusions or blaming the victim.

That is the point. Not all of us believe she was a "victim", probably just the typical "I can do anything I want" person and now wants someone else to take responsibility for her stupidity! :no:

[Curb Appeal]

That is the point. Not all of us believe she was a "victim", probably just the typical "I can do anything I want" person and now wants someone else to take responsibility for her stupidity! :no:

As I stated in a follow-up post, "victim" does not imply complete innocence. She is the victim in that she is the one who was injured.

As my Police and Community instructor put it, "What do you call the losing side of a gang fight? Victims."

[ESG]

Seems to me that the only victims here are the poor horse that's being accused of being vicious, the policeman who's accused of being brutal, and the Houston taxpayers because they'll probably have to fork over for this silly cow's insistence on getting some plastic beads off the street. :no:

[grayarabs]

I think they should outlaw beads at parades. OK - I confess - I don't get it - beads and parades. I think I remember reading where a gal threw some beads that went very close to an officer's face. It did not sound intentional, but geez.
Could anyone get the photo gallery to open up? Perhaps there is info on the horse Kato - his experience etc. I know those horses go through extensive training. Something just not make sense.

[saultgirl]

Another eyewitness account

from http://www.chron.com/news/blogs/

(0)
chiarde wrote:
I was 15 feet from the incident. One of the floats had just passed and everyone was looking in the direction of the float. Three mounted police came up the side of the street from the opposite direction. They were quite aggressive and were yelling as if they were corraling riotous teenagers at a metal concert. I was on the curb and all of a sudden this huge horse was inches from my face. The cops were screaming orders. It was very noisy with the people and music. Had they blown whistles we would have heard them. Well, they passed by heading up the curb line. The folks they came upon were all looking the other way at the float that passed. They weren't more than 1 or 2 feet in the street. I heard the commotion. The officer made no attempt to stop the horse walking into a group of people. Rather than whistle or hold up a few seconds to let people turn their heads, they just trampled into them. We saw the commotion after the trampling. The lady was doing nothing wrong. It was a huge parade with kids and happiness, and all night there were these three pissed off mounted cops yelling and being a bung of jerks, to be honest. It was on the edge of brutality. I feel very sorry for the woman injured. She did not ask for this or do anything that warranted her injury.
Shame on HPD mounted patrols!
BTW, that horse didn't get spooked. I saw it. He just walked into the people. I've seen a spooked horse. This was intentional by the police officer. He was angry for having to work at gay pride. He was yelling and carrying on. Stone faced and very very aggressive. It was simple out of line for the very happy and educated crowd lining the streets.
I may even have a video of the incident. I definitely have video of the mounted officers acting aggressive to very happy parade observers

[Beverley]

FWIW I am unfortunately old enough to remember Kiterick (sp?) - was it Karousel or something - where kids had their birthday parties on that show? If yes - I did that - my birthday - but that obviously many years ago - so my memory a bit foggy.

No 'c'- you took out the vowels and you had 'KTRK.' I myself did my birthday over on KPRC w/Captain Bob.:)

[SGray]

Kato
as of 4/21/2008
Kato, 6. Joined force: 2007. Back story: Donation. Rider: NA. Stable gossip: Smaller paint horse doing well in training. Can be friendly when he wants to be.
http://www.chron.com/life/photogallery/Meet_the_horses_of_HPD_mounted_patrol.html#1095128 1

[LexInVA]

Well, that sorta answers that question...

[bort84]

Well, this is obviously a difficult issue to dissect because none of us were there. On the one hand, I completely see where the police are coming from. Perhaps that particular area the sympathetic blogger was standing in was relatively tame. But I'm certain the officer had to deal with some obstinate crowds that night. I've been to Houston's Pride parade. It's quite rowdy in some areas, and fairly tame in others.

People get drunk at parades, especially night parades (@ grayarabs - night parades are relatively common for parades with a more adult theme. Think Mardi Gras, lots of night parades). Cops often get annoyed with people when they have to work with these parades because people swtich into mob mentality and suck to deal with. Perhaps this cop in particular was extra annoyed because maybe he's a bit, um, conservative.

I've seen cops on Bourbon St. in New Orleans (lived there for several years) use their horses in such a way that shows they clearly don't mind getting a bit physical if you don't get out of their way. Drunk people are often not amenable to officers' suggestions, so extreme measures are sometimes necessary. Usually it's something like swinging the horse's haunches around quite quickly. Most people get the idea and MOVE.

So I do think it would be best if HPD took care of some of the medical bills because it will help them put on a good face to the community. It's unfortunate that the cop was perhaps more agressive than he needed to be, but it's difficult to tell if he was actually out of line since we weren't there.

It seems highly possible to me that the woman reached out to grab a bead, didn't move quickly enough and was knocked off balance more than the officer expected when the horse bumped her. If she were bent over reaching for something and slightly intoxicated, her balance may have already been a bit precarious. Add a large horse bumping you, and it's not hard to see how she may have ended up under some hooves or taking a header into the pavement.

At least she didn't get run over by a float. This usually happens at least once a year at Mardi Gras, and it's NOT pretty. She'd be dead or missing limbs, not just requiring new teeth.

[JSwan]

Hmmm.....

One person says the crowd was a bunch of quiet old folks, and there was no commotion, another person says it was loud with music and people and implies there is a politically motivated anti-gay aspect to the incident.

Hmmmm... methinks there are attempts to manipulate this into an "anti-gay cops harass and injure innocent people trying to exercise their First Amendment rights".;

Must be a slow news night. :sleepy:

[birdsong]

I've been in crowds so thick we couldn't move, but mostly try to stay where there is an "escape" route. Sometimes people don't respect your space at all, but you better believe that if my horse stepped on one of them they would have cried fowl!!!! I had teens come up behind my horse and slap him on the butt, too.

[grayarabs]

I've never given much thought to the adult parades - but they seem to be occasions for accidents to happen. The bits of video I have seen of the parade looks pretty rowdy.
I could not imagine being on a horse amongst all that. I guess the horses have been in/seen worse - but still. I have only participated in parades - well - way "back in the day" (after my appearance on "KK") being on the high school drill team - you know - high-kicking and flipping up our skirts to show our petticoats/ruffles - marching downtown Houston and downtown Tomball. (you would have to know Houston to know Tomball).
I guess there are parades - and then there are parades.

[grayarabs]

Today's Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6507566.html

[JSwan]

The comments always make me giggle. There are some real morons out there.

[LexInVA]

The comments always make me giggle. There are some real morons out there.

Everything is bigger in Texas... :lol:

[RedTahoe]

The horse "attacked" and "'It took a while to get the horse off," Young said. "He was going over, over on top of her.'"



Reading that, I get this image in my head of The Black Stallion rearing and stomping on the cobra on the beach next to Alec Ramsey in the movie. Attacked and "going over and over"....oh boy.

I do think the police department should have offered their apologies though. Who stands close to police horses anyways? (I know the horse "spooked," but really?)

"He said Reimers was probably less than a foot away from Kato when she turned into the horse as he took a step forward. “They basically collided,” Wallace said. “Kato stopped and took a step back, but when he backed up, he backed into the horse behind him.” He said Kato stepped over Reimers and then turned, but when Reimers tried to stand, she hit Kato’s underbelly and spooked him."

^^ I can see that happening.

[SGray]

I agree - Officer Wallace's version makes the most sense

[MiMuneca]

Who stands close to police horses anyways?


"He said Reimers was probably less than a foot away from Kato when she turned into the horse as he took a step forward. “They basically collided,” Wallace said. “Kato stopped and took a step back, but when he backed up, he backed into the horse behind him.” He said Kato stepped over Reimers and then turned, but when Reimers tried to stand, she hit Kato’s underbelly and spooked him."

^^ I can see that happening.

The above explanation sounds totally plausible to me. I had a similar situation occur one time. I worked mounted in a city known for its parades, parties, and large, often rowdy crowds. Three of us were trotting single file down a fairly uncrowded side street, during daylight hours heading up towards the main area. I saw a woman looking upwards, backing up into the street towards us. I shouted out at her to get her attention and get her to stop but she never turned, never looked; she was just intent on a plastic bead. The first horse passed. I saw the impending collision and put my hand out hoping to keep her away from my horse while at the same time I was bringing him back to a walk. I kept yelling at her to stop. She ended up backing herself into the front shoulder of my horse and falling down. She fell face down and landed on her elbow and broke it.
Had she been willing to at least let go of the cup of beer she was holding she probably would not have fractured her elbow. It was pretty amazing I admit. She was on the ground with a full upright cup of suds...and a broken elbow.
We stopped, got the medic, wrote the report....

As for who stands close to police horses?
You wouldn't believe it. They'll slap them, pour beer on them, try and put cigarettes out on them, spray them with silly string, try and give them beer. And you learn awfully quick that if you tie your horse anywhere for you to go do anything you loosen its girth because guaranteed, some drunk is going to try and mount up.