Victoria horse collapses near Gateway

MUMBAI: A horse pulling a Victoria collapsed and got injured in front of The Table restaurant, near the Gateway of India on Sunday.

Onlookers gathered as the horse driver yanked hard to pull the horse up as it was splayed across the middle of the road. The horse tried twice to stand up, only to hear the gasps of onlookers as it slammed back down with a thud against the pavement, with its rear left shoes dangling on its leg by one nail.

The horse fell as it had been fitted with an improper shoe, which had loosened and not been was not changed on timeby the horse's guardians in time. A case has been registered under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

One observer, Tammy Khajotia, who is a passionate horse rider herself, was able to subdue and calm the horse while waiting for the BSPCA (Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) to come by with a van, over an hour after the initial call was made.

The horse had clearly visible cuts and was bleeding from 3 of its legs, and frothing at the mouth perpetually, according to the animal lover, Khajotia. A police complaint was registered at Colaba police station, under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Quote from Tammy: "As an animal lover, and particularly an avid rider, it is heartbreaking to see such flippant and careless treatment of horses in Mumbai is still a day to day reality. I could tell how the horse survived in complete fear of the drivers, so much so that just them touching the horse would have him on edge, and burying his head in my arms".