ARVADA, Colo. — The equestrian community is speaking out after a driver rolled through a stop sign, hitting a horse and rider and breaking the animal's front leg. The horse, Griffin, had to be euthanized at the scene.
The crash happened Saturday afternoon at the intersection of West 52nd Ave and Eldridge Street in Arvada.
Laura Wolf had Griffin for seven years, boarding him in a pasture on Dawn Farquhar’s property.
“The way he looks at you he's got the biggest brown eyes looking at you,” said Farquhar. “He was my favorite. He was the gentlest, kindest, most loving horse.”
Megan Hill's horse, Tucker, lived with Griffin.
“Tucker and Griffin, they had a bromance that I hadn't seen before in horses,” said Hill. “I can’t give Tucker the answer that Griffin is gone and that’s unfortunate. I feel like that was taken away from us and Griffin's owner as well.”
On Saturday, Griffin went on a ride with Wolf, but this time he didn’t make it back home.
“I got a frantic phone call from Laura,” said Farquhar. “I really couldn't understand her. All I heard was, ‘Hit, Griffin, need a blanket, Griffin needs to be put down.’”
When Farquhar arrived at the scene, she learned Griffin had been hit by a car with Wolf in the saddle.
“I talked to her, and she said, ‘Yes, I was yelling and screaming at this driver to stop. He never made eye contact with me. He was looking down in his lap.’”
Wolf said the driver stopped the car once she rolled onto the hood. That’s when she noticed Griffin's front leg was visibly broken.
“When a horse breaks his leg, especially when it's a compound fracture, which is what Griffin’s was, it was broken in several places. The rest of their body cannot compensate for their large weight,” said Hill.
Farquhar said Wolf waited at the scene for the veterinarian to arrive, who then euthanized Griffin. Wolf, Farquhar, and Hill stayed by Griffin’s side until his body was removed from the scene.
“It's 2 o'clock in the afternoon, how can you not see a 16.2 [hand horse], bright red with a rider in bright sunny daylight,” Farquhar questioned.
Physically Wolf is okay, but mentally she's at a loss and is leaning on her friends to help share Griffin's story.
“I'm going to miss that horse,” cried Farquhar. “I loved that horse, and he wasn't even mine.”
“The equestrian community here in the area is shrinking,” said Hill. “A lot of the big barns are being bought up by development and we are losing safe places to ride.”
The area where Griffin took his last breath has several horse crossing signs, warning drivers to be on the lookout.
“There’s no other place to go,” said Farquhar. “There is no lane for us to be in. Pull over, that’s all I’m asking. Pull over, slow down, pay attention. You’re in the horse area now.”
The driver of the car was a 25-year-old from Boulder. He was cited for failing to stop at a stop sign. Colorado State Patrol said the reason there weren't more charges is because Wolf told officers she wasn't hurt.
“I don’t know where he was going or what he was doing, but it was just senseless,” said Farquhar. “It was senseless.”
If you would like to help Wolf, click here.
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