A YEAR or so ago I pulled up outside my home and heard what sounded like a rumble of thunder.

Suddenly about half a dozen loose horses came cantering past my car, spilling onto the road. It was such an odd sight I was stunned, then I realised they were heading for the main road.

A couple of neighbours had come out to see the horses, and one was phoning the police. Thankfully, there was no carnage on the road and the horses were eventually led back to the field they’d come from.


This week several horses ran loose during rush hour in Bradford. Witnesses spotted up to 15 of them heading along busy Rooley Lane dual carriageway before being controlled by police at Low Moor.

It must have been as terrifying for the motorists as it was for the horses. At the time of writing, it’s not known whether the animals escaped or were let out, but they were clearly a risk to the public.

It’s all too common to see horses tethered by roadsides, in all weathers, or ridden recklessly on busy roads. My heart goes out to the poor creatures.

I once drove past someone hitting a filthy, scrawny horse on a pavement; the wretched thing had tried to slip the rope the lad was holding it with. I didn’t approach him, as I was alone and he looked violent, but I called the RSPCA and I hope they took action.


Sadly, horses are often cheap and end up with people who lack the compassion and knowledge to care for them properly - leading to animal cruelty and public danger.

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