Horse arrested over stolen car

A horse was detained by police in South Africa over the theft of a vehicle.

The horse in the Soweto township had been pulling a cart whose load happened to be the stripped body of a brand new car.

Police spokeswoman Captain Lindiwe Mbatha said: “Cops patrolling the township pulled over the cart carrying the Corolla Conquest, suspected to have been stolen.”

The horse and the two suspects driving the cart “were locked [up] for being in possession of a suspected stolen vehicle,” said Capt Mbatha.

Owing to his ‘hot’ load, legislation prevented police from leaving the horse outside the holding cells, so he was hauled in with the humans. He was later released into the care of an animal rights association in Johannesburg, a privilege denied his two accomplices.

It is thought the animal won’t be testifying in court when his handlers are tried within the next 48hr.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now