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Carriage driver injured as shire horse gallops through York streets

Medics tend to the driver of a horse and carriage who was thrown to the ground after the animal broke free of its reins. The man was taken to York Hospital, but later released. Medics tend to the driver of a horse and carriage who was thrown to the ground after the animal broke free of its reins. The man was taken to York Hospital, but later released.

Updated: TOURISTS and shoppers had to jump to safety when a shire horse broke free of its carriage and galloped through the centre of York.

The driver of the carriage was thrown from his seat to the ground when the animal pulling the cart, which takes passengers on sightseeing trips through the city, became startled and broke free of its reins outside York Minster yesterday afternoon.

The white horse charged down Goodramgate and through Monk Bar before being captured shortly afterwards by a member of the public in the Heworth area.

Paramedics were called to the scene to treat the driver, who is in his 50s.

He was left lying near the Minster’s west entrance after being flung to the ground when the carriage collided with a set of bollards at 3.40pm. The driver was taken to York Hospital, but he was later released.

Eyewitness Andy Forde, 34, from Haxby, said: “I was shopping in Goodramgate when I saw the horse galloping down the road towards Monk Bar and then Monkgate.

“People were jumping out of the way and fleeing, almost in a state of panic. I was concerned about what might happen and went down to Monk Bar, but by the time I got there the horse had already run off towards Heworth.”

One tourist from Colchester, who was spending the weekend in York, was on another horse-drawn carriage which had to take evasive action in Goodramgate when the escaped animal ran towards it.

“We didn’t see it until it was right in front of us, but our driver managed to swerve out of the way and calm the horse pulling his carriage,” she said.

“The horse which had broken free was absolutely flying towards us, so something had obviously spooked it.

“Everybody’s concern was just for the man who was injured and we hope he recovers quickly.”

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the animal was caught and brought under control at about 3.50pm yesterday by a member of the public.

The carriage involved was run by Malton-based Myles Conrad Horse-Drawn Carriage Services. A member of staff declined to comment on the accident yesterday.

Comments(31)

paganvirtue says...
1:15pm Mon 24 May 10

Poor horse, it probably got sick of carrying lazy bloody tourists around York in red hot weather.
Hope the driver is ok.

alfie says...
1:19pm Mon 24 May 10

It was far too hot yesterday to be carrying a load of tourists on the back of the cart.

could a lesson be learnt?

hustler says...
3:50pm Mon 24 May 10

Do away with these primitive "attractions". The piles of stenching horse excrement on the road in many streets in York (Colliergate in particular) is enough to turn anyones stomach. Particularly in the recent hot weather.

They aren't quite as irksome as the Open Top buses though !

Garrowby Turnoff says...
4:51pm Mon 24 May 10

If the horse escaped in Goodramgate at 3.40pm and was caught in Heworth at 3.50pm it wants entering for t'ruddy Epsom Derby!
.
Though if I'd backed the nag the Heworth journey would'a taken half an hour...

RingoStarr says...
6:38pm Mon 24 May 10

Ay! All them bloody tourists what do they ever do for us Yorkies? I mean I know York has no other industries left and we'd probably all starve to death without them but....

pedalling paul says...
7:48pm Mon 24 May 10

hustler wrote:
Do away with these primitive "attractions". The piles of stenching horse excrement on the road in many streets in York (Colliergate in particular) is enough to turn anyones stomach. Particularly in the recent hot weather. They aren't quite as irksome as the Open Top buses though !
Nowt wrong with a bit or horse muck. Great for the roses. Plus an authentic kick back to the medieval city, when citizens emptied their pi** pots into the street from bedroom windows.
..........and what is wrong with Open Top buses? I can pedal past them with little or no difficulty.

hustler says...
8:23pm Mon 24 May 10

I wouldn't like to see you trying to control your bike with the tyres covered in horse muck, Paul !! ;-)

TooRelaxed says...
9:13pm Mon 24 May 10

I always find it amazing when people complain about horse manure in the road. Horses were transport well before and for longer than motors.
Horse manure is brown gold!
If you're offended by the smell, try standing next to the city centre hanging baskets and pots that the council lay on, they're full of it.
.
Conversely and far more offensive - Paul says what's wrong with the open top buses? They're not subject to the same emissions regs as normal buses so they puke out smoke, that's what. As a cyclist I'm surprised you're not offended by them. Then again you're a walking council policy pamphlet so buses are cool in your book.
They should be off our roads or the regs should change, they are disgusting.

kitkatbar says...
7:51am Tue 25 May 10

Be careful, 'THE BLACK GOLD' is not all it seems to be. More than one person has died in the UK from contracting TETANUS after depositing it on their roses and then pricking themselves on the thorns. In Vienna there is no problematic issues from their fleet of tourist horse drawn carriages, the same goes for the fleet in Krakow, but in YORK the cabbies complained that they would have to use different tack to have the bags suspended at the rear ends of their horse power.

pedalling paul says...
7:59am Tue 25 May 10

TooRelaxed wrote:
I always find it amazing when people complain about horse manure in the road. Horses were transport well before and for longer than motors. Horse manure is brown gold! If you're offended by the smell, try standing next to the city centre hanging baskets and pots that the council lay on, they're full of it. . Conversely and far more offensive - Paul says what's wrong with the open top buses? They're not subject to the same emissions regs as normal buses so they puke out smoke, that's what. As a cyclist I'm surprised you're not offended by them. Then again you're a walking council policy pamphlet so buses are cool in your book. They should be off our roads or the regs should change, they are disgusting.
Complaints about smoky buses and lorries can be made to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) via www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/
contactus/sharingint
elligence/sharingint
elligence.htm

Interesting comment that I'm a walking Council policy pamphlet. In my career as a lobbyist, I have sometimes agreed and sometimes disagreed with CoYC proposals.
I'm particularly eager to see York's finite road capacity being used more efficiently than at present. For example the 57% of peak car trips that are of less than 5 miles distance. Most are single occupancy and most are parked up for the working day. If these drivers visited York's car sharing website, they would learn how to halve petrol bills and stress levels. And the extra road space created, would enable blue badge drivers, buses, taxis, deliveries and servicing vehicles to move round with greater ease.
You know it makes sense.

kitkatbar says...
8:16am Tue 25 May 10

Come on pedalling paul >> Get off your bike, roll your sleeves up and shovel the Horse Cr** into the nearest bin. BUT make sure you wear gloves and have had your TETANUS jab recently. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. Make a nice picture in the press.

pedalo paula says...
9:24am Tue 25 May 10

Truth can be revealed: The horse saw Galloway waddling down the street and fled in terror.

kelly80 says...
9:34am Tue 25 May 10

Conversely and far more offensive - Paul says what's wrong with the open top buses? They're not subject to the same emissions regs as normal buses so they puke out smoke, that's what. As a cyclist I'm surprised you're not offended by them. Then again you're a walking council policy pamphlet so buses are cool in your book.
They should be off our roads or the regs should change, they are disgusting.

Of course you wouldn't say anything about the tour buses PP, would you, are you still a part time tour guide on the aformentioned fume belching 25 year old leviathons.

Gromit says...
9:36am Tue 25 May 10

kitkatbar wrote:
Be careful, 'THE BLACK GOLD' is not all it seems to be. More than one person has died in the UK from contracting TETANUS after depositing it on their roses and then pricking themselves on the thorns. In Vienna there is no problematic issues from their fleet of tourist horse drawn carriages, the same goes for the fleet in Krakow, but in YORK the cabbies complained that they would have to use different tack to have the bags suspended at the rear ends of their horse power.
I think you will find Tetanus in all soil organisms, if your stupid enough not to be vaccinated against it.

Wayne Carr says...
9:45am Tue 25 May 10

hustler wrote:
Do away with these primitive "attractions". The piles of stenching horse excrement on the road in many streets in York (Colliergate in particular) is enough to turn anyones stomach. Particularly in the recent hot weather. They aren't quite as irksome as the Open Top buses though !
I could not agree more Hustler, do away them, yes. The streets absolutely stink in the hot weather of horse poo. What would happen if a dog owner left their dogs to use the pavement or road as a toilet? The council would soon fine them! These cr** machines do ten times the amount of smaller animals. Come on CYC what's good for one is right for another is it not?

Get-a-grip says...
9:55am Tue 25 May 10

I'm particularly eager to see York's finite road capacity being used more efficiently than at present.

So would I, and would start off with an independent survey as to the numbers of pedal cycles using cycle lanes. I see very few, cycle usage in York is grossly exaggerated.

Gone are the days when they came out of Terry's, Rowntrees and the carriageworks in many hundreds.

More congestion is caused in York because of pandering to the pedal cycle lobby than any other cause due to road width restriction, and for how many cyclists per day in cycle lanes?

kitkatbar says...
10:07am Tue 25 May 10

Gromit wrote:
kitkatbar wrote:
Be careful, 'THE BLACK GOLD' is not all it seems to be. More than one person has died in the UK from contracting TETANUS after depositing it on their roses and then pricking themselves on the thorns. In Vienna there is no problematic issues from their fleet of tourist horse drawn carriages, the same goes for the fleet in Krakow, but in YORK the cabbies complained that they would have to use different tack to have the bags suspended at the rear ends of their horse power.
I think you will find Tetanus in all soil organisms, if your stupid enough not to be vaccinated against it.
Check the WEB, Check the coroners inquest reports. Not my words below.

Tetanus bacteria live in soil, dust and manure, particularly horse manure. Infection occurs when the bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin

sheps lad says...
10:23am Tue 25 May 10

Get-a-grip wrote:
I'm particularly eager to see York's finite road capacity being used more efficiently than at present.

So would I, and would start off with an independent survey as to the numbers of pedal cycles using cycle lanes. I see very few, cycle usage in York is grossly exaggerated.

Gone are the days when they came out of Terry's, Rowntrees and the carriageworks in many hundreds.

More congestion is caused in York because of pandering to the pedal cycle lobby than any other cause due to road width restriction, and for how many cyclists per day in cycle lanes?
Agree entirely re cyclists/cycle lane usage. Well done PP, it must be nearly 3 weeks since we read your oft repeated mantra of car milage,occupancy and finite road space. Can you make it 3 years next time?

m dee says...
11:57am Tue 25 May 10

pedalling paul , York says
57% of peak car trips that are of less than 5 miles distance. Most are single occupancy and most are parked up for the working day.

Paul I recall you using this percentage of car use for quiet some time now,if this is correct then all the park and ride sites around York and the millions of pounds of spent on cycle lanes has been a waste otherwise this percentage of car use would have dropped.

TooRelaxed says...
12:36pm Tue 25 May 10

Re: the cycle lane usage -
Folks, you have it backwards. I believe (and I'm sure Paul has said it many times but he is easy to ignore) that the lanes are being provided to encourage cycling, to give more people a safer place to ride and to increase numbers.
Not to cater for the number we already have.
You have it backwards.

Lady Muck of NP says...
12:43pm Tue 25 May 10

Is this the same driver that has in my opinion over worked and over loaded the horses in the blazing sun for years then by night drives an old taxi?

kitkatbar says...
12:46pm Tue 25 May 10

Why have we got silence from pedalling paul ??? Has he really rolled his sleeves up and gone out with gloves, shovel & bin. As another hazard for York cyclists to have to avoid, I am surprised he is not advocating bringing back the environmental trams. Anyone remember getting your bike wheel stuck in them. What a wonderful slippery combination, fresh steamy horse dung and grooved parallel front wheel death traps. Now Paul do you wear a bike helmet............. ???

sheps lad says...
1:00pm Tue 25 May 10

TooRelaxed wrote:
Re: the cycle lane usage -
Folks, you have it backwards. I believe (and I'm sure Paul has said it many times but he is easy to ignore) that the lanes are being provided to encourage cycling, to give more people a safer place to ride and to increase numbers.
Not to cater for the number we already have.
You have it backwards.
Believe what you wish but do you honestly think that the number of cyclists has increased as a result of all the pretty painted lines and green boxes on our roads?

Get-a-grip says...
1:31pm Tue 25 May 10

Believe what you wish but do you honestly think that the number of cyclists has increased as a result of all the pretty painted lines and green boxes on our roads?

I'm sure no one with a grip on reality does.

The pedal cycle is early 20th century and no solution to any problems we have today. On the contrary, in York as I have said above, it is cycling provision that causes congestion.

What we need to do is find out exactly how many actually use the cycle lanes which have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to provide.

Mentioning these things is always a good way of shutting up the pedalling pillock.

Chumpy says...
3:27pm Tue 25 May 10

You will find Peddalling pillock will return a day or so later so he can get the final say, when the story is tomorrows news, he normally does!

rocknrollnobody says...
4:27pm Tue 25 May 10

I lived in York for a numberof years until recently. During that time, I was never hit by a car, a horse, or an open-top bus. However, I was hit twice by pompous and self-righteous cyclists who believed they owned the road, cycle lane and pavement.

TooRelaxed says...
5:54pm Tue 25 May 10

sheps lad wrote:
TooRelaxed wrote:
Re: the cycle lane usage -
Folks, you have it backwards. I believe (and I'm sure Paul has said it many times but he is easy to ignore) that the lanes are being provided to encourage cycling, to give more people a safer place to ride and to increase numbers.
Not to cater for the number we already have.
You have it backwards.
Believe what you wish but do you honestly think that the number of cyclists has increased as a result of all the pretty painted lines and green boxes on our roads?
I didn't say I believed that numbers had increased, I said I believed these measures were being put in place to increase numbers.
The numbers of cyclists using the lanes may or may not increase, we will have to wait and see. These things take time and time will tell.
.
What you guys are saying is the equivalent of -
"There's no point putting a pond in the garden cos we don't have any frogs or toads."
"There's no point building a bird table and putting food out cos there's no birds in our garden."
"There's no point putting a bench next to that pond cos no one ever sits there."

sheps lad says...
6:34pm Tue 25 May 10

Come on, there has been enough time and pots of money used to surely show some indication that cycle use (however minimal) has increased. The only time you may see a gang of cyclists is when the show is on the Knavemire!

kitkatbar says...
6:49pm Tue 25 May 10

Well we seem to shire-ing away from the Nitty Gritty of this story. A nag has managed to break traces, jerk the coachman from his seat, leave the poor man prostrate on the cobbles, then bolt through foot-streets scattering tourists and locals alike, canter under Monk Bar, gallop across a major cross roads, some how circumnavigate an extremely complex round-about, to be brought to a neighing halt somewhere in Heworth. BUT WHERE WAS PEDDLING PAUL....... DOES HE ACTUALLY EXIST....... DID HE SET OFF FULL TILT after the runaway steed, only to be digressed by the sight & smell of that dewy sweating pile in the middle of the road.............. for his roses.......... We await the next instalment with bated breath and pegs on our noses. WHERE ARE YOU PP we need you please.

moneyforwhat says...
7:41pm Tue 25 May 10

Get-a-grip wrote:
I'm particularly eager to see York's finite road capacity being used more efficiently than at present.
So would I, and would start off with an independent survey as to the numbers of pedal cycles using cycle lanes. I see very few, cycle usage in York is grossly exaggerated. Gone are the days when they came out of Terry's, Rowntrees and the carriageworks in many hundreds. More congestion is caused in York because of pandering to the pedal cycle lobby than any other cause due to road width restriction, and for how many cyclists per day in cycle lanes?
that exodus from the carriageworks was awesome...makes me laugh when people think York is a cycle city these days. I hope that both the horse and it's man are safe and well. Something will have spooked the horse badly and all credit to the animal for avoiding so many people and other obstacles. That is instinct. Have respect for the horse as a creature and forget a bit of smelly poo..it's organic!! There may again be a time when we come to rely on these animals. They were after all the original horse power. Can people on bikes do the ploughing, or pull a coach carrying people to a far off town...I don't think so...and could they be cajoled into doing it in that heat?

sciencefan says...
8:17pm Tue 25 May 10

TooRelaxed wrote:
I always find it amazing when people complain about horse manure in the road. Horses were transport well before and for longer than motors.
Horse manure is brown gold!
If you're offended by the smell, try standing next to the city centre hanging baskets and pots that the council lay on, they're full of it.
.
Conversely and far more offensive - Paul says what's wrong with the open top buses? They're not subject to the same emissions regs as normal buses so they puke out smoke, that's what. As a cyclist I'm surprised you're not offended by them. Then again you're a walking council policy pamphlet so buses are cool in your book.
They should be off our roads or the regs should change, they are disgusting.
It is however still a criminal offence for the carriage operators to leave it there. It is a hazard to other road users and a health hazard.

I bet you wouldn't be so enthused to find dog muck all over the streets of York. It is also a particular hazard for motorcycles, scooters etc. so please do not encourage any further, and if you see a horse leaving his "black gold" in the streets, please report to NYP and the council.

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