Round here I've only seen horses tethered with rope, not chains.

I think that the point people have repeatedly made on this thread is that there is an institutionalised level of abuse that happens within industries associated with horses. But because these are seen as the necessary risks of the trade, and those within the industries and fraternities involved have money and influence, such practice goes unchallenged. I think it's been demonstrated that far more horses die as a result of these industries than die as a result of events like Appleby and Stowe.

Presumably you challenge all these risks to animal welfare at eventing and race meetings you may attend and - dare I say it - within the local hunt?

These people profess to love their animals; so do travellers. But in both cases, there seems to be another side to the story.

My hope is that you aren't choosing the easy target as a vent for your anger and frustration, while ignoring the much larger-scale, institutionalised abuse that is accepted as a necessary evil by the "horsie community".