A horse who suffered catastrophic injuries when it fell from a moving trailer had to be put down on the road.
A member of the public called the police on Saturday afternoon (24 October) as the horse was lying in the A48 near junction 42 of the M4, in Wales.
Lisa Lanfear of charity Communities for Horses told H&H the charity was called about the incident but could not get to the horse as police had closed the road.
“A massive thank you goes to the vets as they got there so quickly,” she said. “There was nothing that could be done for the horse, it was horrific.”
Lisa does not know how the incident occurred but has spoken to a man who was on the scene, and stayed with the horse until the vet arrived.
“He told me the horse had a headcollar and lead rein on; he cut them off as the horse was having difficulty breathing,” she said. “That suggests the horse was secured in the trailer.
“We believe the horse is one who was kept locally, and if it’s the one we think, it was very well looked after.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“It’s devastating and I can guarantee whoever did own the horse has got a heavy heart at the moment.”
A South Wales Police spokesman said: “We were called following reports that a horse had fallen from a moving horse box and was lying in the road.
“To prevent any further suffering for the horse, which had catastrophic injuries, the decision was taken to euthanase the animal at the scene.
“The road was closed for a couple of hours until the horse could be recovered.”
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.
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
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.
