Accidental Fatal Injury is Likely Cause
WEDNESDAY, June 10, 2015 – A horse died on Tuesday afternoon in Romoland and the cause of its death is being investigated by Riverside County Animal Services.
However, it appears the horse’s death was accidental. The owner of the horse told Riverside County officers that the horse got startled when it was being loaded onto a trailer, then bolted from the trailer and rammed its head against the fencing of a steel pipe corral.
The incident happened Tuesday at about 2 p.m. in the 28900 block of Mapes Street in an unincorporated county area north of Menifee. The horse’s death generated some interest from passersby and social media. At least one person was so concerned about its demise, she shot amateur video of the dead horse and posted comments on a social media site. Allegations about the horse’s death can be heard from the woman who is shooting the video.
The incident was initially responded to by an officer representing Animal Friends of the Valleys. It was later determined that the incident occurred in an area handled by Riverside County Animal Services’ field team and Animal Friends of the Valleys contacted the county to share the information gathered.
The horse, a 2-year-old mare named Negra, was being loaded by the owner’s 18-year-old son, according to a report taken by the AFV officer. The horse became “spooked, and ran into a pipe gate.” The man said the horse “immediately became disoriented and fell to the ground, bleeding from the nose,” according to the officer’s report. The horse then lost consciousness, the report said.
The horse was tied to a vehicle with a rope so it could be moved to an area away from public view, the report said. The officer observed 10 other horses at the property that appeared well and were not in any immediate distress. The horses had water and fresh hay.
Riverside County’s officers have also interviewed the owner of the horse and share a similar position with Animal Friends of the Valleys. It appears the incident was a tragic accident, said Sgt. Lesley Huennekens of Riverside County Animal Services, one of two responding county officers.
Riverside County has obtained custody of the horse. The county is sending the horse to a lab to have a necropsy performed. The necropsy is being done to ensure the public that the cause of the death reflects the information gathered by both animal organizations.
