Hit-and-run injures top rider, kills horse

The following article was online on the Star from Ontario news, Here is a copy of what the article had

"Hit-and-run injures top rider, kills horse

WANDA GOODWIN/SPECIAL TO THE STAR
Jessica Ruppel, riding Bella, who was put down on Collingwood road.
Driver wouldn't slow down on road near Collingwood

Apr 04, 2009 04:30 AM
Gail Swainson
STAFF REPORTER

Collingwood OPP are investigating a hit-and-run involving one of Canada's top equestrians after she and her talented young horse – which had to be humanely put down by the side of the road – were struck on a rural side road earlier this week.

"Bella suffered so much," recounted Jessica Ruppel, who was riding the promising 3-year-old bay Hanoverian filly when a pickup truck smashed into them. "She was trying to get up and thrashing and whinnying. It was just horrible."

Veterinarian Jim Mitchell gave the filly medication for shock and fought for two hours to save her as she lay in the mud, covered with blankets. But when it was found she not only had internal injuries, but a shattered pelvis, the decision was made to humanely destroy Bella right there to end her suffering.

"I'm pretty shattered by this whole thing," Ruppel said in an interview yesterday.

Ruppel, who suffered a black eye and other bruising, said they were hit by a light-coloured pickup truck just 125 metres from the barn driveway Tuesday about 5:50 p.m. while out on a fun ride with friend Monica Wolfe on her appaloosa Kirby.

Ruppel, 25, is a fixture on the North American Three-Day Event scene and is currently on the list for Canada's 2009 team in the Olympic discipline, which combines show jumping, cross country jumping and dressage in a three-day format.

Just last year, Ruppel spent months recovering from a broken back suffered in a riding accident.

Ruppel said the truck was heading down the narrow gravel road at a high speed when she began waving her arms at the driver in an attempt to get him to slow down. The riders moved their horses to the far side of the road, but the driver made no attempt to slow, she said.

"He was going quite fast. I made eye contact, but he wasn't on his side of the road," Ruppel said. "He didn't move over, he just held his speed and his line and he hit us."

Ruppel said the truck, which had damage to its front driver's side, stopped and the driver and passenger got out.

"He yelled at me something like `what were you doing on the road?' and then got back in his vehicle and drove away," she added.

OPP Const. Theresa Van Boven said in a statement the truck was westbound on 9th Sideroad near 10th line in the Blue Mountains when horse and rider were struck.

Suzanne Hess, owner of South Grey Hanoverians, who bred the filly – named Royal Symphony, but affectionately dubbed Bella – was in the process of selling her to Ruppel. She was not insured."

I know alot of you ride on the road, so thought I would post and if you do a search on facebook there is a group for the cause of getting information out to the public on to educate them on how to drive by horses. I myself have a spooky horse so do not ride on the rodes but use to love to condition on them when a teenager and will be printing out the pamplet to bring to the local driving school.

I feel terrible when there is a loss of life, horses or humans and hope that some education to the public comes from this.

THANKS FOR THE REMINDER

wow thats horrible i hope they find the guy and he goes to jail for along time what an idiot.

YIKES! How easily it can happen. Whenever we ride off the property we have to do a little bit on the road. I find that most of the drivers are really good and slow right down. Mind you, at first when we were on the roads people didn't slow down. Then I think the word got around that there's some new crazy lady in the area that takes her pony for a walk and waves her arms frantically at you as you are approaching until you slow down. There is still the odd one who I'd still love to THUMP! It can all happen so fast.

My mom was riding when she was a teenager and a guy came up behind her in his sports car and blaired the horn. Her horse actually reared up and my mom landed on his car putting a huge dent in it. He was so mad that mom landed on his sports car didn't even car that he could have killed her. She got off the hood of the car had a couple "nice" words to say to him then kicked the door in just so the dents matched lol. Ppl are so stupid.

yes it happened to a friend and I while out riding a couple of summers ago.,two four wheelers came screaming by and when I yelled for him to slow down, he stopped and started screaming that he stops for no one.. and a few other nice words.. Gunnar nearly climbed a tree.. scared us pretty bad.. don't they understand someone can get killed.. :roll:

VERY scary stuff....puts knots in my stomach thinking about it!!

I was riding down a road when 2 stupid teens were drag racing...and I was riding alone and there was no time to get off or into a driveway, I just kept talking to him...thank the lord he didn't spook!! Just two stepped a little....