To the Editor:
The fire chief’s horse/truck collision in nearby Edgecomb, brought back a sad memory, with lessons I learned, and hope I can relay to as many drivers as possible.
I was driving home from my girlfriend’s horseback riding lesson (in English-style dressage) on Route 41, in Sarasota, Fla. It was a warm night, with light traffic, in the summer of ’74. Suddenly a white horse leapt out from behind a phone booth, under a streetlight. The horse galloped across the slow lane straight at me. I slammed on my brakes the moment I saw her, and was down to about 15 mph at contact. After parking off to the side, I pulled her by the ankles off to the side street quickly, as traffic approached: three cars passing a tractor trailer. Relieved, I went to the phone booth (by some miracle I had change) and called the police. As I watched in horror, the mare came out of her daze and attempted to flee.
Each attempt took immense effort, she thrust with her forelegs and reared up on her hind legs, her forelegs spun wildly, attached only by skin, and the crack of her teeth on pavement at each fall shattered my dreams for many years to come.
Each of many, many cars prompted a redoubled effort on her part, and gut- wrenching soul- searching on mine. Fortunately the police arrived with a Humane Officer, who instantly stripped off his shirt and wrapped it around the mare’s eyes, and she instantly relaxed. I cursed my ignorance. He then said “Horses are positively phototropic, they charge at bright lights.”
I found the neat crescent dents in the chrome windshield trim several months later.
Had her teeth hit a quarter inch lower they would have hit mine.
Let everyone know: If it’s dark and you see a horse loose on or near the road, immediately turn off your lights as you slam on the brakes. Turn on your flashers. Contact the police, humane officials, and a local farm. I was also told the horse’s owner is responsible for damage. The mare in this story had chewed through a clothesline, and no owner was found by my insurer.
Christopher Gilbert, Bristol
