Much help provided to thoroughbred horses injured in accident in Welkom

Five thoroughbred show jumpers had to be urgently rescued from an overturned horse trailer near the Welkom police station and Goldfields Mall on Sunday evening, 6 July.

Although three of the show jumpers were badly bruised and cut, none of the injuries are fatal.

The fast action of the police, a towing company, the Welkom fire department, emergency services, local veterinarian Dr Pieter Matthee from Riebeeckstad, Belinda Basson and her daughter Shaylene, and other riders of the BHS Equestrian Centre saw to the horses’ safety.

Basson says the horses were on their way back from the South African (SA) Youth Championships that were held in Kyalami, Gauteng, over the weekend. Three of the horses, including Frangelica, have been taken to the Onderstepoort equine clinic for x-rays.

Two of the horses are now on their way to George, Western Cape, where they must stay in quarantine for two weeks. Gauteng is rife with African Horse Sickness (AHS), so the horses must be monitored and tested before they can go home to their stables in Still Bay, Western Cape.

“The rescued horses stayed overnight in my stables and were attended to by Dr Pieter Matthee, who also had to give Frangelica stitches,” says Basson.

Basson and her daughter are being lauded for the calm and efficient manner in which they executed the rescue operation, and safely transported the horses to the BHS Equestrian Centre near Riebeeckstad.

Basson says all of the role players expertly handled the rescue.  She was assisted at the scene and then transported the horses safely to her farm. Here they were tended to by the vet and safely stabled after being given water, food, and warm blankets. The belongings of the horses and owners were also transported to safety.

Basson says she remained in the stables with the horses until 01:30 to calm them down and then went in again at 07:30 to prepare them for their different journeys.