Ute Blasts Horn Causing Horse to Bolt & Ereti to be Injured

28 Mar

15-year old Ereti and her two friends had to shift their horses into a new paddock. The paddocks weren’t very far apart. It was late in January 2025 and her Pāpā was waiting for her as she got the job done. She saddled her friend’s horse and they all headed out single file down the quiet road.

It wasn’t long before they heard a 4WD ute approach from behind, revving its engine. They recognised the young driver, and at first no-one thought too much of it. The vehicle passed. But a second 4WD approached and when it was close to the horses, it blasted its horn continuously. This frightened all three, and the horses bolted. Ereti struggled to slow her horse down and was slipping. She looked up to see the single lane bridge ahead, and it was at this point she decided she’d be best to fall on the road than on the bridge. She summersalted on the hard road surface and landed in the middle of the road. She was angry, sore and “grazed up bad'‘.

**Keep Ereti & her friends safe.**

Ereti injuries will heal but the poor judgement of drivers that January day put her and her mates at great risk.

A woman who had the passed the riders earlier, saw what happened and had done a U-turn and came to help Ereti. Both walked over to the drivers who were no longer laughing. The woman gave them a big telling off, and Ereti smacked them. The boys were apologetic and shocked at what had happened.

Ereti is grateful her injuries can heal but says the driver’s poor judgement put hers and her mates at risk.

“Never rev your engine or toot your horn around horses. Not even to say hello or anything”