Owner gallops away as bailiffs move in to impound horse (From Daily Echo)
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Owner gallops away as bailiffs move in to impound horse
6:10pm Monday 30th July 2012 in Southampton
Owner gallops away as bailiffs move in to impound horse
A HORSE that was about to be impounded for illegally grazing in Southampton was ridden away from the clutches of council bailiffs as they were about to move in.
The horse was released from its tether on council land at Olive Road, Coxford, by its owner who galloped off bare-back before the animal could be seized.
Council chiefs believe the preparations to impound the horse must have been spotted from a distance.
Another horse on land at Bakers Drove in Lordshill was impounded for illegal grazing and taken to a secure, undisclosed location, outside the city.
If not reclaimed by tomorrow together with a reimbursement fee for the costs of the bailiff operation, stabling and care, the council said the horse will be “responsibly re-homed”.
The council launched a crackdown on illegal horse grazing last year after a rise in the number of people being trampled on, bitten or kicked by the tethered animals.
They included a six-year-old girl who was nearly trampled on by a horse, a pensioner who was pushed to the ground and others who were bitten and kicked in the stomach.
The council has powers under Section 9 of the Hampshire Act 1983 to impound horses caught illegally grazing if there is potential for damage to property or if the horse is not being cared for properly.
The Southampton City Council operation involved specialist officers from Eastleigh Borough Council and the police.
It said horses illegally grazing on Weston Shore and at other sites in the west of the city were removed by their owners without the need for further action.
Eastleigh council last year won the RSPCA’s Innovator in Animal Welfare Award for its approach in tackling illegally tethered horses.
Southampton has teamed up with Eastleigh to reduce costs and ensure horses are not simply pushed across boundaries from one council to another.
Comments(12)
05woodj1
says...
6:45pm Mon 30 Jul 12
chunky_lover
says...
7:56pm Mon 30 Jul 12
bigfella777
says...
8:17pm Mon 30 Jul 12
bigal007
says...
8:50pm Mon 30 Jul 12
bigfella777 wrote:lol yeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaa
You cant beat riding bare back.
windyboy
says...
9:29pm Mon 30 Jul 12
chunky_lover
says...
10:23pm Mon 30 Jul 12
windyboy wrote:very good!
Should be able to get a posse together and round them up, after all theres enough cowboys on the council....
SaffaInTheUk
says...
1:03am Tue 31 Jul 12
solents
says...
7:53am Tue 31 Jul 12
The Wickham Man
says...
8:29am Tue 31 Jul 12
Niel
says...
1:27pm Tue 31 Jul 12
SaffaInTheUk wrote:Quite possibly the best outcome for some of them and the state the poor animal is in, better than the chemical death some vets use...
“responsibly re-homed” = bullet to the head.
sotonandproud
says...
4:31pm Tue 31 Jul 12
keeping horses should be a pleasure just like having an allottment but you try an find grazing from this council.
you would think horse owners would be thanked by the council for keeping the grass down as they dont seem to be cutting it in southampton.
dogbruce says...
6:27pm Mon 30 Jul 12