STRANGE FREAK OF A HORSE.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 48, 30 July 1877, Page 2

STRANGE FREAK OF A HORSE.

(WAERKAMBOOL STANDAKD.) The following strange incident has been reported by an eye«wi*ness of the occurrence : — " One of the strangest freaks of a young colt, through which both rider and horse narrowly escaped a wntery grave, occurred at Nirranda lately. Tho owner of a farm, who combines colt breaking with other pursuits, handled a powerful dapple grey colt, which being what horsey men term "a plum," it was thought advisable to take him to the beaou in order to escape the danger attendant on backing so unruly a brute in a stockyard. On all occasions when a colt is to be mounted people gather in crowds to see the sport, as they term it, and on the present occasion there were a good m?ny eye* witnesses to the incident about to be related. Alter having gono through tho ordinary preparations of lounging and other preliminariws, tlifi horse w;«< saddled and mounted, but to the astonishment of crery one present he bolted with lightning spewl for the sea, which ho gnmed in, a tew seconds, and was soon, ninon^ tlie breakers. Three successive times was liis rider washed from his sent, but with that true pluck which characterises thecolonial horsoma.i, he stuck to the pigskia in a most determined manner, and it now became a matter of life and death, as the colt was soon beyond the breakers and swimming rigorously on the large swells, that were rolling inwards ami nothing could be seen bat the head aud shoulders, of the rider atf they mounted the rolling billows. He continued this course for about half a mile, in spite of all the efforts used to get him to steer for the beach. The colt then seemed to be thoroughly exhausted, for he floated, without any apparent desire to. go in any direction, for almut 10. minutes. \ then with a sudden plunge, be made for tlv?- beach in as ile'erinjned a intviner a* h* 1 l\ad li-fr it, and in a very short time Uorsv- and rider landed amid the cheers of friends who b,ad been awaiting vsifch breathless expectation a melancholy result."