Four escaped horses die in car accident
THE poor state of the fencing at a BHS-approved riding centre is being blamed for an accident in which four horses
were killed and a mother and her 10-year-old son were seriously injured, writes Michael
Steed.
The horses escaped from a field at Hill House Equestrian Centre, near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, on Sunday, 30 January
and were involved in an accident involving two cars.
Carol Pearson of Charity Farm, next to Hill House EC, said the accident scene was one of "absolute carnage".
It is understood that the horses, three of which belonged to Hill House and the fourth to a private owner, broke out
through a gap in a fence. A fifth horse was unharmed.
Horse-owning neighbours of Hill House criticised the state of the fencing at the
centre. Mrs Pearson said
that the horses had apparently gone down her drive to the main road after breaking out of a field next to her own. "These horses have been out a number of times,
it was an accident waiting to happen. I've told Hill House about the poor condition of its fences
time after time. It's such a tragedy and totally unnecessary," she said.
Tina Hart of Sand Lane, behind Hill House, said: "The
fencing is terrible. There is
only electric tape between hedges and it doesn't even appear to be connected."
A spokesman for Craegmoor Health Care, owner of Hill House, said it was conducting a full investigation. "It remains too early to say how this happened and how the horses reached the road," he
said. "Our thoughts are with those injured and we are very upset about the animals involved." Lincolnshire Police are investigating.
A spokesman for the riding schools and livery yards approvals department at the British Horse Society (BHS) said: "Approved
riding schools aren't obliged to report something like this to us. But in this sort of situation, riding schools are welcome
to come to us for support and advice—that's what we're here for. But we wouldn't get involved
unless they asked us to and normally it wouldn't be for us to investigate."
Source: Horse
& Hound 10 February 2005
Horse
killed on B-road
A five-year-old Thoroughbred has been killed after a van collided with it and carried
horse and rider 23yards along the two-lane road.
Anna Wood, 28, was returning
alone from an afternoon hack and was 200yards from the stable when a van, believed to be travelling well within the speed
limit, hit the pair. The road, the B1283 near Easington, Co Durham, has horse and rider warning signs.
The horse, Indy, died at the
scene. Anna, a nurse, who was wearing a reflective coat, was unconscious for lO minutes. She suffered a broken arm and collar-bone,
and spent two days in Sunderland Hospital.
Her father, Malcolm Wood, says: "The driver wasn't doing anything
wrong and
Indy was as near
to bombproof as you can get. Anna had to use the road to get to the nearest bridleways."
Source:
Horse & Hound 10 February
2005
Electrocution horror
claims two mares
THE Dublin show champion Dimmer
Light has been killed with another mare in a freak accident that also nearly claimed the life of their owner's mother.
It is thought an electrical fault
at the family's stable yard in Donacloney, Northern Ireland, caused a short-circuit that electrified the wet yard and gates.
Ivy English went to feed the
broodmares at 6am and found one mare, All About Charm, lying dead in the yard. She fetched her son, Mark, and husband, Eddie, but as they neared the yard, Coot Cup winner Dimmer Light came out of the
shelter and also died.
A third mare, My Irish Charm, another Dublin and Balmoral
show winner, received a slight shock. She burst through a gate into the field, which saved her life.
Eddie English spotted sparks
in a corner of the yard and told his wife and son not to move. Mark English says: "It was heartbreaking and we're still in
shock. The mares were due to foal in a few weeks. They were wonderful show mares and family pets as well. My mother adored them. We're just thankful she wasn't
killed when she went to investigate because she was standing in the electrified yard. The light switch shorted and
the current travelled back and connected with the yard. Everything was live, even the gates".
Source:
Horse & Hound 17 February
2005
Riding club secretary dies in dressage fall
A
tragic accident during a schooling
session last week has claimed the life of a Sussex riding teacher.
Helen Davies BHSI, 50, fell from
her horse in an arena away from home. She sustained head injuries and was taken to the neurological unit at Hurstwood Park
Hospital, Haywards Heath, where she died at the weekend without regaining consciousness.
Helen, secretary of Horsham and District riding club for 30 years, was
heavily involved in road safety as well as her local Pony Club branch. She was riding her own horse at the time of the accident
and wearing a hard hat.
Source:
Horse & Hound 24 February
2005
|
