Owner blames 'idiots' for horse's escape

by Peter de Graaf
The owner of a horse that escaped its paddock and shut down the Kamo Bypass for an hour during morning peak traffic has hit out at vandals interfering with her animals.
The July 17 incident saw eight police and three animal control officers called in to shut down the bypass and catch the panicked horse. Initially there were fears the horse would have to be shot, but it was eventually caught and returned to its paddock.
Owner Heather Wilson said it was the third time one of her horses had got out onto the bypass after interference by vandals, joyriders or contractors.
After the latest escape she had found branches and a 10m-long vine by the fence, and believed "some idiots" had tried to catch the yearling horse and frightened it into jumping the fence.
A year ago someone cut the road fence from top to bottom, as well as cutting open a padlocked gate. Police thought hoons might have wanted to joyride in the paddock at night, Mrs Wilson said.
On another occasion contractors working on an adjoining subdivision removed a fence, leaving the paddock open for several days before she found out.
"Horses are unpredictable. If they're frightened they'll run, and they'll jump a fence if they have to to get away,: she said.
People interfering with her family's horses were putting the animals and motorists at risk, and had landed her with a fine from animal control.
"To those responsible for chasing this horse out of its paddock, think before you act again - you just may kill someone as well as an innocent animal."