Shocking moment American tourist squeals in pain as King's Guard horse bites her when she gets too close

This is the shocking moment an American tourist begged for help after being bitten by a King's Guard horse.

Footage shows the holidaymaker yelling 'Ow! Ow! Help me, he's got my arm' after the horse grabbed hold and refused to let go.

Neither the King's Guard in the saddle or a soldier stood next to him step in to intervene, with other visitors eventually coming to her aid. They can be seen gently patting on the animal's nose before it lets go.

It is not known when the incident took place but footage was published online two weeks ago. It has emerged at the same time another video showing a woman stumbling backwards after being bitten went viral.

Despite many considering them tourist attractions, the King's Guard consist of elite serving soldiers who are tasked with protecting the monarch's life and properties.

The American tourist squeals in pain as the King's Guard's horse bites down on her arm (pictured)

Other tourists manage to help free the woman from the horse's grasp (pictured)

They are generally not allowed to interact with the public, but may shout if they get too close or present their bayonets if they become aggressive.

The soldiers must not let anything distract them from their duties - with toilet breaks banned during two hour shifts - and will march through anyone in their way.

While tourists can take photos of them, armed officers stationed near them will step in if they get too close or behave disrespectfully.

A sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses may kick or bite, telling them not to touch the reins.

In the footage published yesterday, a horse clamped down on a woman's saree after she put her hand on its neck while posing for a photograph.

She stumbles backwards in shock after being bitten and very nearly falls over, but steadies herself by putting her hands back on a stone wall behind her. 

The video went viral on social media yesterday attracting more than 800,000 views

Earlier this year, a female tourist who went in search of a photo with one of the famed guards got a lot more than she bargained for when it bit down on her jacket and would not let go.

In a video clip, the young woman is seen positioned in line with the horse's head, ready for her photo opportunity.

While a sign next to the guard warns onlookers that horses may kick or bite, the woman can't resist raising her hand in an attempt to stroke the animal when it tilts its head to nuzzle her.

Yet as she does so, the horse bites down on the arm of her black puffer jacket and is soon tugging at it in an increasingly aggressive manner.

In one incident, when a woman went to stroke the horse's face, it bit down on the arm of her jacket. Refusing to let go, it tugged on the jacket and pulled her back and forth and up and down before finally releasing it

The tourist is seen trying to get away from the horse after it clamped down on her jacket - but to no avail 

Even as the woman tries to move away from the horse, it remains attached to her jacket and, moving its head from side to side and up and down, pulls her this way and that with vigour.

While the woman showed signs of fright on her face, she appeared more shocked and bemused by the experience than she was shaken.

When the horse releases her jacket after about five seconds of tugging, she looks noticeably relieved before starting to giggle.

Back in September 2023, another tourist got a little too close to a King's Guards horse and was blasted by the soldier.

In the video, a throng of tourists can be seen clamoring around a mounted guard on Horse Guard's parade, Westminster.

Multiple nervous tourists are seen approaching the mounted pair, respecting their distance and posing for smiling photographs.

In another video a man was seeing touching the reins of one of the horses  

This caused the King's Guard to bellow: 'Do not touch the reins!'

Some brave souls are seen laying tentative hands on the enormous horse's flanks which the mounted guard graciously allows.

However, one tourist overstepped the limit, and in the process of trying to touch the horse tampered with the reins causing the King's Guard to bellow: 'Do not touch the reins!'

Clearly in a state of shock, the tourist backs away from the horse raising a hand in apology as he does so while the crowd chatter nervously. 

More recently, in March, Home Secretary James Cleverly called out 'heckling' tourists who were approached by a police officer after they accosted a King's Guard. 

They were given short shrift and told that the guard is 'not an object for ridicule'.  

In March, Home Secretary James Cleverly backed an armed police officer who berated tourists for 'ridiculing' a King's Guard on duty

The armed police office told the tourists that the King's guard is 'not an object for ridicule'

In another incident recorded last year, footage showed a woman lashing out at a King's Guard for 'pushing' her out of the way as he carried out his duties. 

The incident, which went viral on TikTok, shows the blonde woman standing in the guard's way at the Horse Guards Parade.

The woman, who was holding a blue can of Pringles, was seen standing very close to one of the mounted guards, while other bystanders gave the guards more room by standing further away.

Despite the King's guard on foot asking the woman to step back when he first passed her to salute his fellow guards, she stepped even closer to the agitated horse of the mounted guard.

When the guard that had previously warned her walked back towards the gates, the woman moved right into his path.

He shouted 'make way' and used his arm to move the woman out of his path, which left her furious.

He shouted 'make way' and used his arm to move the woman out of his path, which left her furious. She shoved her can of Pringles into him and turned around to the crowd asking if they saw what happened, only for another bystander to reply: 'He asked you to move and you didn't do it'

The incident, which went viral on TikTok , shows the blonde woman standing in the guard's way at the Horse Guards Parade. The woman, who was holding a blue can of Pringles, was seen standing very close to one of the mounted guards, while other bystanders gave the guards more room by standing further away

She shoved her can of Pringles into the guard and turned around to the crowd asking if they saw what happened, only for another bystander to reply: 'He asked you to move and you didn't do it'. 

In another incident, a large group is seen giggling at the King's guard on foot. 

Two armed officers step in to ask the tourists to stop as the man filming the clip praises the policemen, saying 'well done officer' and 'that's it, throw them all out'.

A large group of tourists was caught on camera 'giggling' at the King's guard on foot 

He adds: 'This is what happens when you disrespect the soldiers here, who are at work, and treat them as though they're a bunch of clowns here for entertainment.'

The group then shuffle away from the scene.

But not all incidents end with a slap on the wrist - or a near-bite.

One elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King's Guard in 2022 when the soldier moved closer to her as she posed for a photo with her husband. 

An elderly military veteran was treated to the friendlier side of a member of the King's Guard when the soldier moved closer to her and allowed the woman to pat his horse's nose

A video posted on social media showed the couple - both of whom were proudly displaying their medals - moving as close as they dare to the mounted soldier.

But, having apparently realised they had both served their country, the soldier, who was wearing his customary plumed helmet and armour, quickly urged his horse closer to them before allowing the woman to pat his steed's nose.

Beaming, the couple then moved away and the soldier directed his horse back into position.