[ad_1]
“Didn’t realise I needed to say but – horses aren’t allowed on our trains, sorry folks,” tweeted Chris Minns, premier of Australia’s New South Wales state.
While not much is known about the horse, what’s clear is that it was preparing “to stirrup trouble,” Transport for New South Wales, which oversees transport systems in the state, said in a news release.
Footage shows that after horsing around for a while, it had a choice to make as the train pulled into the station: In or out? Yea or neigh?
After staring at the train for a few seconds, the horse turned around and trotted back down the platform, seemingly following another (again, human) commuter who appeared to be running on his way out of the station. Or, as Transport for NSW put it: “The horse had planned its journey but got colt feet and decided to hoof it.”
Security agents from Sydney Trains were alerted, “and trains in the vicinity were warned to run at reduced speeds,” Transport for NSW said.
In at least one way, though, the horse followed the golden rules of commuting: “I’m just glad he kept his hooves behind the yellow line!” Transport Minister Jo Haylen said.
It later emerged that the horse had escaped from the stables of Annabel Neasham Racing, close to Warwick Farm Station, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
It’s not clear how it escaped, but Steve Railton, chief steward of Racing NSW, cited Annabel Neasham, a trainer and the owner of the racecourse, as saying that “an unknown person released three racehorses and a stable pony from one of her stables on Friday night.”
“One of the racehorses left the vicinity of the stable complex, while the others were captured,” said Railton, according to the Herald. Annabel Neasham Racing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post on Thursday.
Eventually, the horse was filmed being led into a truck — presumably, to go back to a place with fewer metal tubes and more grass and hay.
“I can confirm the horse has returned home, safe and sound,” Minns said.
Though it is not an everyday occurrence, “from time to time, we do find animals on tracks, particularly cows,” said Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland, according to the Herald. “It’s a wonder the horse didn’t try and board the train.”
Longland said the horse may have gravitated toward the station because of its bright lighting, according to the Herald.
“Thankfully, we were able to warn our train drivers to look out for animals on the tracks,” he said. “We were able to catch the horse not long after that.”
Transport for NSW confirmed that the horse “was safely reined in and is in a ‘stable’ condition.”
[ad_2]
Source link
