Runaway horse and buggy stopped safely in Elmira thanks to pair of quick-thinking mothers

Police have shared details of a peculiar emergency call involving a horse and buggy in Elmira, Ont., from over a week ago. (Courtesy: WRPS)

Waterloo Regional Police have shared details of an unusual emergency call in Elmira, Ont.

They said two mothers, out on a coffee run, reported a runaway horse and buggy.

The incident happened at 10 a.m. on Nov. 28. Police said the women, only identified as Marianne and Julie, called 911 after spotting the horse moving at a steady pace. What alarmed them was that there was no driver in the buggy.

According to a transcript of the call released by police, Marianne and Julie followed the buggy at a safe distance while speaking with the dispatcher.

“There is a horse and buggy traveling. There’s no one in the buggy,” one of the women said. “We’re following it… we are just on an adventure trying to be helpful.”

The women also described the horse moving steadily along, joking that the animal seemed determined.

“I don’t know, maybe he’s really hungry and wants its treats at home.”

At one point, one of the women noted the situation was “not on my bingo card” for the morning.

Police said it is unknown how the horse became separated from its driver, only that there was no property damage, and officers were able to locate the owner once they arrived on scene.

“They followed until they observed others stop the horse and tie the horse to a pole,” Cherri Greeno, a police spokesperson told CTV News in an email.

“The men that stopped were comfortable with horses. The owner has been identified and officers gave the owner a ride to the location where the horse was finally stopped. The owner was in an appointment when the horse got loose.”

The horse was safely secured, covered with a blanket and returned home.

“Oh, the horse is stopped,” the caller could be heard telling the dispatcher. “Somebody is leaving their truck and going to grab the horse… he got the horse blanket out. He kind of wiped it down a bit.”

“Sounds like you guys got it all under control right now,” the dispatcher responded, laughing.

The Waterloo Regional Police Service thanked the two women for calling 911 and guiding responders to the buggy, writing on social media: “Two moms, one runaway buggy and a horse determined to hoof it away. Pretty sure this wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card!”