Eventer, Jessica Ruppel of Fergus, ON, was involved in a hit-and-run accident last week as she rode a promising young horse along a rural road on a hack with a friend. Collingwood OPP are now investigating the incident, which left the three-year-old Hanoverian filly, Royal Symphony (aka Bella) dead and Ruppel with minor injuries.
Ruppel said they were hit by a light-coloured pick-up truck just 125 metres from the barn driveway on Tuesday, at approximately 5:50 p.m. She said they moved their horses to the far side of the road when they saw the pick-up approaching at a high speed, and that she began waving her arms to get him to slow down, but he did not. After the impact, the pick-up, which had sustained damage to the front driver’s side, stopped and the driver and passenger got out to yell at Ruppel, then got back in and drove away.
Veterinarian Jim Mitchell met Ruppel on the scene and tried for two hours to save the filly, who suffered a shattered pelvis in addition to other internal injuries, but the decision was made to have her euthanized immediately.
Suzanne Hess, owner of South Grey Hanoverians, who bred Bella, was in the process of selling the filly to Ruppel. She was not insured. Anyone with information should contact the Collingwood OPP.
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