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Horse runs buck wild through S.F.

By: Katie Worth
June 8, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO — In what may seem straight out of San Francisco's Wild West era, a horse attached to a carriage rampaged through North Beach and The Embarcadero, hospitalizing its handler and knocking at least two people off bicycles.

The horse, employed by a company that gives carriage rides around popular San Francisco neighborhoods, is kept at Pier 45. Around 6 p.m. On Monday, the horse was being prepared for work when it was apparently spooked, said police Sgt. Mark Ballard, adding that the horse knocked down its handler and trampled over him.

The handler has been hospitalized and is serious condition, Ballard said.

The horse then ran wild down The Embarcadero, tracing a course through Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach, before finally being corralled by a Good Samaritan. However, the horse managed to free itself and again ran down The Embarcadero, this time knocking down at least two bicyclists, Ballard said. Their injuries were not known, he said.

"After this whole thing ended, two bystanders somehow corralled the thing down at North Point and The Embarcadero," Ballard said.

They were able to keep hold of the animal until the owner was identified and contacted. The horse has since been taken to a veterinarian in Novato, Ballard said.

kworth@sfexaminer.com



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Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

anne Cohen

Jun 9, 2009

Complete with the main part of William Tell's overture. Adds more drama and excitement to the unusual scene of chaos.

 

Cynthia

Jun 9, 2009

Horse-drawn carriages endanger the horses as well as the public safety. When horses spook (and they do so very easily), they become extremely dangerous. Why don't lawmakers and municipal governments understand this? Inhumane for the horses and tragic for the people involved.

 

April

Jun 10, 2009

Those horse drawn carriages are far safer than most of the drivers in Fisherman's Wharf! Over the years, there has been one or two accidents involving the horse drawn carriages. You couldn't say that about vehicles/motorcycles/pedestrians. Furthermore, the drivers of the carriages are much more aware/respectful of the traffic than the traffic is of them (or pedestrians). Has anyone witnessed cab drivers in SF? To say that the horses are dangerous is uninformed and ridiculous!

 

WharfRats

Jun 10, 2009

The irony is that the owner of the Horse Carriage operation is also the owner of Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals!

 

kiwi

Jun 28, 2009

the driver' derek heckler has died after 2 weeks in a coma.

 


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