So I sent those of you on my facebook (I think, apologies if I missed anyone) an invite to a group yesterday, but for those who didn’t get a chance to look or who aren’t on facebook, I thought I’d bring it up here, as well.
Anyway. Team Canada member and olympic-listed eventer Jessica Ruppel was involved in a horrific collision last week while hacking on the road near Collingwood. She was riding a 3 year old filly that she was planning on purchasing when a pick up truck flew down the gravel road straight at them, ignoring signals to slow down. The driver apparently made eye contact with her, and then proceeded to drive directly into the horse, making no attempt to swerve or slow down. Both the passenger and the driver then got out of the vehicle, yelled at the riders, and sped off.
Needless the say, the poor horse suffered incredibly and had to be euthanized on the road. The latest information I’ve heard is that the police have located the driver of the truck and that he is giving his statement today. I’ll keep you guys updated with what happens.
There are SO MANY different things this person could be charged with under Municipal/Provincial/Federal law – here’s hoping our justice system doesn’t chicken out and just slap him with a fine. He needs to go to jail.
The only real news article to date can be read here:
thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/613685
There has been a facebook group set up, as well, if anyone is interested in joining:
facebook.com/group.php?gid=6 … 443&ref=nf
And there are a few threads on the EMG forums that are being updated regularly with the latest information. The owner of the filly who was killed will be posting as she hears news:
equiman.com/forums/ubbthread … 097&page=2
equiman.com/forums/ubbthread … 158&page=4
equiman.com/forums/ubbthread … w=1#UNREAD
Any of you who live in horsey communities may want to consider writing to your local paper/radio station/TV channel highlighting this story and encouraging them to run SOMETHING informing drivers of the laws in the area and the potential consequences of their ignorance. In Ontario, horses have the right of way on the road and drivers MUST yield at least half the road to a horse (ridden, driven, or led) and slow down to, at most, 50% of the posted speed limit.
It is NOT funny to scare a horse on the road! Aside from the obvious fact that the horse and rider could be injured or killed, it is also very likely that the passengers in the vehicle could be seriously injured or killed. A horse is a lot bigger than a deer!
Traffic accidents involving horses happen far too often. Maybe now that one of North America’s top riders is involved, the issue will finally get the media attention it deserves so people can finally be educated.