Yahoo News Police statement after multiple calls over 'horse at side of road'
Multiple motorists spotted a horse at the side of the road in Bushey, prompting police to make a statement.
Passers-by on Little Bushey Lane and the A41 have raised concerns that the animal grazing by the side of the road could be unsafe, over recent weeks.
Herts Police had shared a message stating that there was no cause for concern on April 26, but people have continued to contact them over the horse’s welfare.
This morning (June 28), a spokesperson said: “We are continuing to receive calls from members of the public concerned that a horse beside Bushey Lane, in Bushey, is loose by the road.
“Please be reassured that this has been checked and the animal is still tethered and is grazing happily.”
Passers-by have also raised issues with the practice of tethering of horses by the road but, according to the RSPCA, tethering is not illegal in itself.
Motorists have reported seeing a tethered horse at the former Mercure Hotel site (which is currently fenced off). (Image: Google Street View)
The animal charity acknowledges that “seeing a tethered horse can be worrying” and says it receives around 5,000 complaints about tethered horses a year.
The RSPCA website adds that it does not recommend tethering as a viable way to keep a horse and, if needed for a horse to have access to grazing, “it should only be for short periods of time”.
It does ask people to report tethered horses that do not appear to have access to food or drink or look to be in a poor condition.
