Last updated at 9:16 AM on 3rd September 2010
Prince Harry was accused of animal cruelty yesterday after his horse suffered a bloody injury during a polo match.
He was photographed riding a pony that appeared to have been stabbed in the flank by his spurs.
An onlooker claimed that the 25-year-old prince continued to ride his horse while blood was visible on its flank, but St James’s Palace said he stopped playing as soon as the injury was spotted.
Animal welfare groups accused Harry of being ‘heartless’.
The Hurlingham Polo Association, the sport’s governing body, has launched an investigation.
James's Palace" class="blkBorder" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: black; border-right-color: black; border-bottom-color: black; border-left-color: black; ">Agonising: The spur mark is clearly visible on Prince Harry's horse. An onlooker claimed he continued to play despite the injury, a claim refuted by St James's Palace
Bloody: The puncture mark is clearly visible on the flank of the pony. Animal charities have described the Prince as 'heartless'
The horse was injured during a match at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, in July, but photographs of the incident have only just emerged.
Prince Harry’s Household Cavalry team was beaten by the Royal Navy by five and a half goals to five. The Navy had been granted a half goal advantage at the start of the match.
Under polo rules, riders who use their spurs excessively face disciplinary action ranging from a warning for a first offence to a fine of up to £50,000.
They state: ‘Any player intentionally striking another player or any pony with his stick, or abusing his pony by excessive use of the whip or spurts shall be severely penalised.’
The rules also say: ‘Any spur likely to wound a horse is forbidden.’
Andrew Tyler, director of animal welfare charity Animal Aid, said: ‘It was a heartless and utterly selfish thing to do.
‘Polo is a very rough activity that causes stress and injuries to horses. The use of spurs in such a fast-moving event is a vicious indulgence.
‘Spurs are unnecessary for a competent rider and should not be used to punish a horse for the rider’s failure to gain advantage.
‘Prince Harry comes from a background of hunting and shooting which is at odds with the vast majority of the British public.’
Tony Moore, chairman of the Fight Against Animal Cruelty in Europe, said: ‘Prince Harry is cruel. If a rider uses their spurs in a way that injures a horse then that is cruel.’
David Morley, Hurlingham’s chairman of welfare, said it was unusual for horses to suffer blood injuries during a polo match.
‘The nature of the injury suggests to me that it was as a result of an accident rather than exuberance,’ he said. ‘Sometimes somebody bumps into another rider and nudges his spurs in.’
Mr Morley said that about half of polo players wore spurs, with many believing it is better to ‘nudge’ a horse with spurs rather than ‘thump’ it with the heel.
St James’s Palace insisted that the prince came off the field as soon as he noticed his mount was injured, adding that horse and rider were able to return to the match after minor treatment.
A spokesman said: ‘Prince Harry was wearing regulation footwear (round-headed spurs) worn by many polo players.
‘As soon as the cut was noticed, play was stopped and the horse was treated properly. The horse was absolutely fine and returned to the field immediately.’
He added: ‘Prince Harry takes the welfare of his horses incredibly seriously and has been riding this horse for many years.
‘He has nothing but the highest respect for the polo ponies and would never knowingly do anything to cause the animals distress.’
Prince Harry was said to be ‘very upset’ in May when another of his polo ponies, a ten-year-old mare called Drizzle, collapsed and died from a heart attack at a polo match. The prince had been riding the horse shortly before it died.
But he was criticised by animal welfare groups in 2007 after two protected hen harriers were shot near the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk.
The prince was questioned by police. He said that although he had been in the area at the time he
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1308528/Prince-Harry-faces-animal-cruelty-claim-polo-ponys-stab-wound-spur.html#ixzz11sjODntF
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