FRENZIED MORSES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 111, 10 April 1934, Page 2

FRENZIED MORSES.

ROTORUA STAAIPEDE

MOUNTED RIFLES IN CAAIP. ROTORUA, April 9. A stampede which broke out among a considerable number of horses, which had been brought to Rotorua in connection with the annual camp of the Waikato Alounted Rifle Brigade, created some excitement in A raw a Park on Saturday night and resulted in one animal having to be destroyed. The horses were trucked to Rotorua and arrived on Saturday afternoon, when they were unloaded and taken to the racecourse. It is understood that after being fed they were released in groups into the centre enclosure of the course. Just after nightfall, in order not to damage the race track, the horses were led over the timbers to the inside enclosure and it was when the second group was released that trouble commenced.

Unused to the field, the first group of animals apparently took fright on hearing other animals clattering over the tmbers and careered round the track, startling the second group and causing a general mix-up when the groups met. All of the animals became thoroughly startled and in the stampede which followed all the pickets could do was to keep the animals from breaking through the fences and causing further damage. The frenzy of the horses made it unwise for anyone to enter the enclosure in an endeavour to quieten them, and it was not until late on Saturday night that calm was restored.