Driver hit by stray horse (From York Press)
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Driver hit by stray horse
8:50am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News
By Mike Laycock, Chief reporter
Horses tethered at the side of the York to Stamford Bridge road in April
ANOTHER motorist has hit a stray horse on a country road near York – just as councillors prepared to discuss plans to tackle the problem of tethered horses.
The 50-year-old van driver, from Acomb , who preferred not to be identified, told The Press how he only saw the black and white horse at the last second as he was driving along the road between Holtby and York late on Monday evening.
He said he swerved to avoid it but it clipped the side of the van, denting and scratching it and damaging the mirror.
“But if there had been something coming the other way, I would have been killed, and if I hadn’t swerved, it would have come through the window.
“I was very shaken up and couldn’t sleep a wink last night.” He also suspected he would now lose his no claims bonus. North Yorkshire Police confirmed the accident was reported.
The accident was the third involving tethered horses which have strayed into the road in the York area this year.
David Hughes, chairman of Holtby Parish Council, said: “We are very, very disturbed and annoyed about the horses and the lack of effort by City of York Council to deal with the problem,” he said. “We in the village are just waiting for a fatality.”
Independent Osbaldwick councillor Mark Warters, claimed there had been “absolutely scandalous” prevarication by the authority which was putting more lives at risk, particularly as the nights drew in.
“I believe that if someone dies after striking one of these horses, there could be a case for corporate manslaughter against the authority,” he said.
Members of the council’s community safety scrutiny committee were being updated last night on progress in dealing with such problems.
Steve Waddington, assistant director of housing and community safety, said beforehand that it was working with police, landowners, the RSPCA and the National Farmers’ Union to develop a policy and procedure to address the problem, including alternative grazing options, working with owners on the number of horses that they kept and an enforcement policy.
“These proposals will be presented to the council decision-making session for the cabinet member for crime and stronger sommunities shortly.”
Comments(44)
Kevin Turvey
says...
9:16am Wed 12 Sep 12
Surely in this case and the last one is was Untethered horses rather than Tehered horses that were the problem!
Well Well Well, I imagine there will be a few I told you so's now.
It's off to the glue factory for the horse 'owners' and dog food for the horses then!
Murphy_the_Spangle
says...
10:04am Wed 12 Sep 12
Gary Gilmores Eyes
says...
10:09am Wed 12 Sep 12
Personally I think James Alexander should resign over this.
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
10:51am Wed 12 Sep 12
I wonder whether they deliberately step into an oncoming vehicle in order to "end it all"?
Osbaldwick Lad
says...
11:22am Wed 12 Sep 12
yorkiemum
says...
11:25am Wed 12 Sep 12
Osbaldwick Lad wrote:Hahaha that made me smile much cheaper than the official limo!!
Could I suggest that these horses are taken into Council care. They could then be used by Councillors and officials to go about their official duties on horseback. This would make a nice saving on travelling expenses.
Sawday2
says...
11:41am Wed 12 Sep 12
leannec91
says...
11:44am Wed 12 Sep 12
akuma
says...
11:56am Wed 12 Sep 12
leannec91 wrote:
why dont the council buy a field for them and make travellers pay rent to keep there horses in there ,horses on the road between holtby and stockton on forest back roads are always getting loose if the travellers where bothered about there animals then they should atleast cheak on them last year youths walked on the a166 and un hooked all the horses and a women i no whitnessed 1 of the horses get hit by a lorry thats how sad some people are for unhooking them
and make travellers pay rent
LOL, I just spat tea over my keyboard reading that!
BioLogic
says...
11:58am Wed 12 Sep 12
However the owner is fully liable. If they cannot be traced by NYP or NYP cant be bothered (which is more likely) then the Motor Insurers Bureau will pick up the uninsured losses of the unlucky Van Driver, he shouldn't loose his no claims.
sheps lad
says...
12:07pm Wed 12 Sep 12
BioLogic wrote:The owner of the horse is called Smith!
The owner of the horse is at fault for the accident for allowing it to stray into the road, CYC is also liable for failing to address a known problem, however it could be argued if they weren't aware of this specific horse their liability is limited.
However the owner is fully liable. If they cannot be traced by NYP or NYP cant be bothered (which is more likely) then the Motor Insurers Bureau will pick up the uninsured losses of the unlucky Van Driver, he shouldn't loose his no claims.
leannec91
says...
12:13pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Boadicea
says...
12:18pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Kevin Turvey wrote:EXACTLY.
'just as councillors prepared to discuss plans to tackle the problem of tethered horses. ' Surely in this case and the last one is was Untethered horses rather than Tehered horses that were the problem! Well Well Well, I imagine there will be a few I told you so's now. It's off to the glue factory for the horse 'owners' and dog food for the horses then!
Whistlejacket
says...
12:18pm Wed 12 Sep 12
There are still surviving pinfolds on Tadcaster road near the Fox and Roman pub and at Acaster Malbis.
The relevant law is probably still in force.
If the fine isn't paid in 30 days, then it's Cassoulet de Mare and Filly Steak on the school lunch menu.
Stevie D
says...
12:47pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Murphy_the_Spangle wrote:
I am not condoning the tethering of horses on verges but a horse is a rather large animal, how can you only see it at the last second?
Horses don't have headlights, and don't wear reflective strips either. If you've had to dip your lights because of other vehicles on the road, you won't necessarily get a lot of warning of an unlit object, particularly if it walks into your path from the verge or the other side of the road.
capt spaulding
says...
1:14pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Whistlejacket wrote:Can you let me have the recipe for cassoulet de mare......sounds yummy
Most towns used to have pinfolds, which were "built to hold animals found straying from their owner's land or grazing on the common without common rights. The animals would only be released on payment of a fine to the Pinder who was an officer of the Lord of the Manor. "
There are still surviving pinfolds on Tadcaster road near the Fox and Roman pub and at Acaster Malbis.
The relevant law is probably still in force.
If the fine isn't paid in 30 days, then it's Cassoulet de Mare and Filly Steak on the school lunch menu.
Digeorge
says...
1:38pm Wed 12 Sep 12
The owner of this horse is called Smith!
Does it mean Smith et al? Which one?
Very funny probably is as well!
I think you might find it owned by the local travellers who have suddenly 'disowned' it.
ilikechocolate
says...
1:51pm Wed 12 Sep 12
yorkshirelad
says...
2:02pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Stevie D wrote:Hmmm...remind me not to cross the road when you're around.
Murphy_the_Spangle wrote:
I am not condoning the tethering of horses on verges but a horse is a rather large animal, how can you only see it at the last second?
Horses don't have headlights, and don't wear reflective strips either. If you've had to dip your lights because of other vehicles on the road, you won't necessarily get a lot of warning of an unlit object, particularly if it walks into your path from the verge or the other side of the road.
sheps lad
says...
2:06pm Wed 12 Sep 12
leannec91 wrote:Did you not get the joke?
sheps lad nearly all travellers are smiths
Eric Olthwaite
says...
2:26pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Developing a policy and procedure to address the problem….. therefore they are doing nothing in practical terms despite the law is already in place to deal with the problem.
Typical relevant authority’s **** footing around as usual!
Never mind, see the Press’s earlier story this week about the costs of fixing/tidying up travellers sites to the council tax payer… let’s throw more money at the problem for it not to go away!
I can only hope that the next accident involving these untethered horses is with a council vehicle or police vehicle and it will be self-inflicted at the taxpayer’s expenses yet again.
The headline ‘Driver hit by Stray horse’
It is a well-known fact that horses are experts at boxing and other martial arts and those hooves are large and very heavy, never mind the fact that they are owned by members of the travelling community who are also well known for their illegal bare knuckle boxing matches for large amounts of cash.
Those horses are double hard.
Digeorge
says...
2:43pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Horse hit by driver driving carelessly and too fast.
Question was the driver going to fast around that area as it is a well-known fact that there are loose horses there.
Fact about those travellers ponies, they probably do not have horse shoes on their feet and riddled with worms etc so don't kick as hard as you think!
And there is a cattlegrid at Sherriff Hutton so you can't drive too fast anyway as it curves the wrong way as you go over it.
Perhaps Julian Sturdy MP would like to investigate?
Gary Gilmores Eyes
says...
2:54pm Wed 12 Sep 12
And there is a cattlegrid at Sherriff Hutton so you can't drive too fast anyway as it curves the wrong way as you go over it.’
Are you commenting on a different incident to that reported ?
The ‘story’ clearly states:
‘driving along the road between Holtby and York’ ie. the Bridlington Road (A166)
Holtby is nowhere near Sheriff Hutton.
If you know of another similar incident that has not been reported in the press that the council/police are doing nothing about please tell us.
Pete the Brickie
says...
3:12pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Digeorge
says...
4:03pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Digeorge
says...
4:05pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Not very far though when you have a horse and cart.
Digeorge
says...
4:32pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Travellers' horses 'damaging hedgerows'
12:00am Thursday 19 October 2000
A collection of more than 30 horses belonging to a family of travellers has left a trail of devastation costing thousands of pounds at illegal encampments surrounding York.
RSPCA officers seize 22 travellers’ horses
2:22pm Wednesday 4 April 2012
CONCERNS raised by members of the public have led to the seizure of 22 horses belonging to a travelling family.
Roadside horses 'put off visitors'
12:00pm Tuesday 7 May 2002
A TOURISM leader today slammed the miserable and negative image created by tethered horses on a key route into York.
Appeal from travellers after horses go missing
12:00pm Saturday 13 April 2002
A FAMILY of York travellers has appealed for information after two of their horses went missing.
'Hazard' travellers face court ban
12:00pm Friday 8 March 2002
COUNCIL officers have been authorised to seek a High Court injunction banning a travelling family from camping alongside highways across York.
Problem travellers face York-wide roads ban
12:00pm Thursday 7 March 2002
A TRAVELLING family which has had 111 complaints against it could face a High Court injunction banning it from highways across the whole of York.
meme
says...
4:40pm Wed 12 Sep 12
AnotherPointofView
says...
5:10pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Digeorge wrote:... and your evidence for the driver commiting several offences is what?
The headline should read:
Horse hit by driver driving carelessly and too fast.
Question was the driver going to fast around that area as it is a well-known fact that there are loose horses there.
Fact about those travellers ponies, they probably do not have horse shoes on their feet and riddled with worms etc so don't kick as hard as you think!
And there is a cattlegrid at Sherriff Hutton so you can't drive too fast anyway as it curves the wrong way as you go over it.
Perhaps Julian Sturdy MP would like to investigate?
Digeorge
says...
5:32pm Wed 12 Sep 12
There is a saying 'many a true word spoken in jest'
What is to say that he wasn't?
xtc
says...
6:32pm Wed 12 Sep 12
nearlyman
says...
6:43pm Wed 12 Sep 12
.............
chuckynorris
says...
10:23pm Wed 12 Sep 12
PS Is it true these animals are destined for French cooking pots?
piaggio1
says...
10:40pm Wed 12 Sep 12
...and yea get em on the stove
piaggio1
says...
10:42pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Stevie D
says...
1:18pm Thu 13 Sep 12
yorkshirelad wrote:
Hmmm...remind me not to cross the road when you're around.
If you're walking across or along an unlit 60mph road with no lights or reflectors on you and without checking for traffic, I think you'll find that most drivers will fail to see you until you're bouncing off their bonnet.
JeagerBrain
says...
10:54am Fri 14 Sep 12
ilikechocolate
says...
1:49pm Fri 14 Sep 12
honestworker
says...
9:14pm Fri 14 Sep 12
GuyWithCommonSense
says...
6:10pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Theapplesarecoming
says...
9:21pm Sun 16 Sep 12
GuyWithCommonSense wrote:No offence but if I had saw you holding a horse waving in the rain I would assume you were a gype and stay well away , sorry but people don't take risks in helping people anymore as so many are nutter , you had been on a night out? Were you also drunk ? ( another avoid box ticked)
IS THIS A JOKE? I found that horse around 4am on my way home after a night out! Whoever this man from Acomb is, is most likely to be one of the people who drove past me standing in the rain trying to hail down passing cars for help as my phone was dead and I had no means of controlling the horse who was quite resistant! Eventually I managed to contact the police who said they would send somebody. 40 Minutes later I contacted them again and they told me that the owners had been contacted and that they were on their way. Obviously I didn't fancy waiting around for some gypsies so I managed to tie the horse down with some rope. Asides from my delay with a dead phone battery, this could have been dealt with A LOT better by police by either coming to the scene themselves or at least letting me know that they had contacted the owners. It was a dark night and I only noticed the horse because I was cycling, when I got there it was in the middle of the road on a corner and most definitely would have caused an accident if a car had come.
GuyWithCommonSense
says...
9:30pm Sun 16 Sep 12
Theapplesarecoming wrote:I had been drinking yes but I wouldn't have come across as drunk & I can't say I would describe my personal appearance as that of a gypsy...
GuyWithCommonSense wrote:No offence but if I had saw you holding a horse waving in the rain I would assume you were a gype and stay well away , sorry but people don't take risks in helping people anymore as so many are nutter , you had been on a night out? Were you also drunk ? ( another avoid box ticked)
IS THIS A JOKE? I found that horse around 4am on my way home after a night out! Whoever this man from Acomb is, is most likely to be one of the people who drove past me standing in the rain trying to hail down passing cars for help as my phone was dead and I had no means of controlling the horse who was quite resistant! Eventually I managed to contact the police who said they would send somebody. 40 Minutes later I contacted them again and they told me that the owners had been contacted and that they were on their way. Obviously I didn't fancy waiting around for some gypsies so I managed to tie the horse down with some rope. Asides from my delay with a dead phone battery, this could have been dealt with A LOT better by police by either coming to the scene themselves or at least letting me know that they had contacted the owners. It was a dark night and I only noticed the horse because I was cycling, when I got there it was in the middle of the road on a corner and most definitely would have caused an accident if a car had come.
Although 'stranger danger in the dark in the early hours', I can appreciate ha
happydad
says...
3:18pm Mon 17 Sep 12
piaggio1 wrote:Flamingoland Inn - before that Snickleback I think
4 Alls ?? god i,ve bin trying to think what that pub wer called .camerons house. so what was the pub called at the start of the duell carridgway ,that is now a pakistani resturant...........
...and yea get em on the stove
Eric Style says...
8:56am Wed 12 Sep 12