Pony Gets Loose In Modesto

MODESTO (CBS13) — Modesto police and animal control officers were called out to reports of a pony on the loose in Modesto on Thursday afternoon, then had some difficulty corralling the animal.

The Shetland pony was corralled by officers in the 1300 block of Orangeburg shortly at about 2 p.m. It was unclear where the pony came from or who owns it.

A driver spotted it and officers followed it at Highway 99 and 9th Street for several blocks to Orangeburg. Roads in the residential area were closed from Kearny to Tully.

Some junior college students brought hay to the pony after officers controlled it and waited for a horse trailer to arrive.

"He kind of led us on a trot through northwest Modesto," said Sgt. Garret Crawford.

Once the pony was boxed in, the homeowner hurried to the side yard after hearing commotion.

Neighbors watched it all in awed and angst.

"Seeing the horse come down here and everyone chasing after it, I was terrified for the horse," neighbor Kim Robinson said.
About two hours into the ordeal, an equestrian officer pulled up with a trailer.

He tried to wrangle the pony into the trailer, but the pony put up a fight.

After bringing in fresh oats, the pony settled down and the handler quickly guided the animal inside the trailer.

The rescue was a first for even veteran police officer.

"Dogs on the loose, the occasional snake or something like that," Crawford said. "A horse is the first for me."

Since the owner remained unknown, the pony was taken to an animal shelter.