Slight mishap ends in almost disaster and a broken carriage with Hackney Horse William

On the route to the forest , I have to pass a beautiful lane, which originally presented few hazards when driving, until they put at the inmediate roadside 5" hardwood posts to prevent people parking there.
I hated them from day 1, as they presented a real danger for any horse ridden or driven, shying for whatever reason to the roadside. No more harmless safety escape was possible on the pavement.
Today happened what I feared could happen to anyone. For unknown reason, on a moment without traffic on a calm saturdaymorning, William looked to the left and shied three paces to the right, my right frontwheel hooking behind one of those posts.
William feeling extra resistance, threw in his 1hp, resulting in a total loss carriage and broken harness.
Luckily, I could get down unharmed and go of the road, a very exited William dragging the carriage behind.
Some passer by ( without any horse experience) which I signalled for help, released on my directions the harness while I stood at William's head and I had to walk a mile home, William luckily completely unharmed. On collecting the carriage, I made this short video.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• hackney
• horse
• william
• carriage
• broke
• disaster
• accident
• danger
• dangerous
• bending
• breaking
• harness

[Oakleaf700]

POSTS!!!!!! they can kill. I hate them.

The Council put up three posts and widened the pavement at a section of busy local road..I have used the road for years, but the new arrangement took me by surprise..as the road suddenly narrows and tou are faced with concrete posts..Tragically, a young motorcyclist riding at night rode straight into these posts and died. Had they not been there, he would have lived. Councils do not THINK.

[hackneysaregreat]

@Oakleaf700

You are absolutely right.

[ponypall808]

wow i fel soo bad for you. poor william i bet he was shocked. sorry about your carriage. good thing you are both ok. is there any way to fix it?

[hackneysaregreat]

William was quit exited, burt did not bring me into trouble during the mile walking home.

The carriage can be fixed with a lot of work, but I won't do it anymore. I really need a safer one to drive.

[MegF142857]

Glad William and you are okay. Sorry to hear about your carriage.

[hackneysaregreat]

Thanks, the loss of a carriage like this is unpleasant, but really not more then that.

I am now looking for a sponsor :-)

[hawkstorm55]

this might seem harsh but better the carriage be destroyed then you have to 'destroy' your friend. im really glad he's ok and you were ok. and someone stopped to help you...

[Kolibri2005]

I love driving but it really is so much more dangerous than riding in many ways...so much more can go wrong! I drove my pony quite a bit but she is a bucker and after she bucked on the cart a few times I stopped for my safety and hers. I'll take it up again with another horse (hopefully not a bucker this time) and with a cart that fits properly. Mine was always too small--I was literally looking right at the soles of her back feet a few times. I'd love to try show driving next :-)

[MsCrazyhorselady]

Thank God you 2 weren't hurt!

[blackerthanblackdog]

I hope you sue ; whoever put those in needs to learn the lesson that horses need to be considered .

[hackneysaregreat]

For us horse people, that has indeed become the most dangerous aspect of keeping and driving/ riding a horse.