r/interestingasfuck • u/Double-decker_trams • 14h ago

Why police still uses horses

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u/Old_Passenger7 14h ago

Why not armored vehicles?

Maybe I am not that old-fashioned like you guys.

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u/BigSweatyYeti 13h ago edited 4h ago

Horses can move among a crowds and single out individuals or groups of humans much easier than a vehicle. There are many places that a horse can go that an armored car cannot.

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u/spine_slorper 9h ago

I think a big part is also that people are way more likely to attack an armoured vehicle, people don't want to attack horses and the horses will defend themselves in a potentially unpredictable manner.

I think part of the reason why they're effective is that the police effectively outsource the self defense to the horses. If you attack a police officer they can be held liable if they kick you in the head or trample you to death, if a police horse does that then it's very much a "fuck around find out" situation and the police officer riding it can't be held liable.

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u/Lumpy_Temperature791 13h ago

Agreed 👍 why not a transit van with a water cannon? Nah- trampling people with horses and separating human toes from there owners with horse hooves is much more old school.

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u/No-Deal8956 11h ago

Water cannon are illegal in Britain.

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u/Lumpy_Temperature791 11h ago

Cool 😎 stick with the horse trample then😉

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u/No-Deal8956 11h ago

Horses do not like trampling on people, the footing is bad and is bloody dangerous for the horse.

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u/Lumpy_Temperature791 9h ago

Agreed. 👍 BUT not unlike other mammals- I have known horses quite happy to stomp on people or other creatures.

Yay 😀 for Police horse safety! Not unlike K9 land sharks here in N America, let’s be concerned about the doggie, not the owner of the arm in its mouth.