Horse put down after 'freak accident' with minibus
A TEENAGE girl whose horse had to be put down after a ‘freak’ collision involving a minibus has told of her distress.
Emma Corboy, aged 17, of Roborough, had been riding with a friend on Dartmoor near Yelverton when her horse’s leg was broken in a crash with a bus full of children.
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Wolinn
Describing five-year-old Wolinn as ‘amazing’, Emma said: “I went through the worst experience of my life having to wait for the vets to come and put her to sleep.”
She also thanked people who stopped to help her while she waited for a vet arrive.
Police in Tavistock said the incident, involving a white private hire minibus, happened five metres from the junction with the busy A386 road, opposite the Rock pub in Yelverton around 3.30pm on Wednesday.
Officers this weekend launched an appeal to locate the minibus driver. The man had stopped and taken the mobile phone number of Emma’s friend but had not contacted her or reported the accident to police, a spokesman said.
A man contacted police about the incident yesterday morning and is due to be interviewed by officers on Tuesday.
Before the collision, Emma had been about to cross the road on Wolinn but had been dragged off the horse by an overhanging branch, said Emma’s mother Janet Corboy.
The horse then walked into the road and was struck by the vehicle, breaking one of its left legs.
Janet said the experience was ‘horrific’ for her daughter, who is an experienced rider.
She said: “It was a complete freak accident, just bad timing. I keep thinking that if Emma hadn’t been dragged off, she would have been on the horse when it happened. After it was hit, it went into a panic and ran off down the road.
“Emma had to go after her and calm her down, call and vet and wait for them to arrive. There were people stopping to help her, which was brilliant.
“Wolinn was only five years old and was an absolute superstar that we had big plans and high hopes for.
“She was out of a prolific Olympic superstar and we had every confidence that we would have fun and achieve high with her. These dreams have been shattered.”
The family had bought Wolinn in January after having to have their previous horse put down due to an incurable condition which made her lame.
Janet added: “Emma seems to be coping as well as can be expected. She’s been a brick.”
75 Comments
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by becci, plymouth
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 10:51PM
“apologies for spelling mistake in previous post,i meant scene .”
by becci, plymouth
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 10:46PM
“i personally think this thread should be closed to stop any further upset to this poor young girl. i have had horses for over 15 years and know just how attached you can become to them. they become a member of the family. it was at tragic accident and i dont feel anyone was to blame. i think the driver was right not to expose the young children to a upsetting seen like that, however im not sure if he came forward or not in the end. i hope the rider can grieve peacefully for her horse without any further thoughtless, cruel comments! becci plymouth.”
by Kevin, Plymouth
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 7:21PM
“I lost a pregnant pony 3yrs ago on the 20th April 2005. She was killed by a motor cyclist. So I know how Emma is feeling. This is the 1st time I have spoken out about it.”
by horselover, Kent
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 1:56PM
“It seems to mean that the comments are no more then simple primary school playground bullying! since when really did peoples personal opinions truely matter in a story like this? it is very sad that this accident occured, but it is indeed an accident. Yes the driver should have reported it sooner and yes he should have shown a little more compasion to the young girl, but how would you react in this situation?
Surely the term 'let sleeping dogs lie' should be used on this board. Peopl have differences of opinons, get over it. its just an opinion, not a statement of fact. you dont have to listen or abide by it.
Sometimes i wonder the mentality of those on this site.”
by abi, plymouth
Tuesday, October 21 2008, 9:16AM
“1. this girl had every right to be riding on the main road. a 17 year old is allowed to drive a car on the main road, aswell as ride a horse bike or walk on the main road. jeff you obviously have no sympathy or interest in this so why did you feel the need to comment on this thread?? to upset the young girls who is already devistated even more!! nice one mate. and jeff if you were born 100 years ago, horses would be your only transport.
As a horse owner i can really sym[pathise with emma. my horse was put down just over a year ago and it really is like losing a part of the family. for all those who want to leave nasty comments saying its only a horse, your only going to be upsetting the 17 year old who has lost her best friend. if thats how you get your kicks, then you should take a step back and look at your own lives! my thoughts are with you emma and i hope you find yourself a new bast friend very soon xx”
by Charlotte, Devon
Monday, October 20 2008, 9:07PM
“Jimmy and Ken. Crawl back under the stones where you came from (or back in the woodwork). You are disgusting speciments of men to be so callous when a much loved horse has been lost. Why come on this thread just to be nasty and make the people who have lost this horse feel worse than they already feel. People like you disgust me.”
by amber, plymouth
Monday, October 20 2008, 8:39PM
“after reading all your comments i am some what saddened by some of the negative attitudes some people have.i was THE ONLY PERSON to witness everything as i was the other rider she was with ,so to every one giving negative comments you wernt there so cannot juge us on who was wrong or right.this is a truly sad incident emma is one of the best riders i know so if you have nothing nice to say get a life and go an annoy someone who desrerves annoying!”
by KenPlymouth, Plymouth
Monday, October 20 2008, 6:19PM
“That is a good point Mick, maybe it is because once the horse has no use, what's the point in paying for the feed. But then again here we have a bunch of people who want the driver hung drawn and quartered for failing to report an accident as a result of an out of control horse running across a main road. Must be some logic there somewhere.”
by Jimmy, Plympton
Monday, October 20 2008, 6:19PM
“If horses were supposed to be on the road they would have wheels and not feet, keep them where they belong, race tracks and fields.
Jimmy”
by Steve, Germany
Monday, October 20 2008, 6:06PM
“Steve! Not wishing to labour the point but I believe the person you referred to as a German was in fact Austrian -
Apart from that - hope everyone else involved is OK”