Escaped horse caused massive concern in a Loxahatchee community
LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. — A deputy from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was involved in an accident because of a horse that got loose in Loxahatchee. After a few minutes, the horse eventually passed out, but it is expected to make a full recovery after getting medical care.
The horse, which was a wild mustang, broke out of its enclosure and traveled for more than nine miles before succumbing to heat exhaustion and falling to the ground.
“Accidents like this happen, and it’s not how we wanted it to end up,” said Rabecca Lord.
Even though Lord was there on Saturday when the horse ran away and was able to keep up with it without danger, she believes that the mishap might have been averted.
The Bureau of Land Management requires that any wild horse that is at least two years old be kept in a facility that is at least six feet high.
Lord said that the mustang was six years old and was kept in an enclosure that was five feet high.
“Ignoring those requirements guarantees the risk of either the horse or the owner getting hurt,” said Lord. The BLM requirements are there for a reason.”
However, some horse owners said that the height would not have made a significant difference in the outcome.
“I don’t think it really matters how high that fence was because it was still going to try to escape,” said Claudia Campbell, owner of Delmar Farm. “It doesn’t know how high it was, 5 or 6 feet.”
Campbell didn’t see what happened, but she says she has worked with horses enough to understand how they would react.
“Horses are flight animals, and no matter what, if they are scared, they are going to try to get away,” said Campbell.
The horse’s owner and the farm refused to comment, but the owner’s mother said that the horse received treatment and is now doing well.
“I just hope that this was a lesson learned from her and that further on out she follows the rules and regulations of the BLM because they are there for a reason,” said Lord.