Bl**dy Hot Air Balloons

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BFG

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A hot air balloon when over last night and because it was nearly bringing in time the last 2 horses were grazing near the gate, it scared them senseless and they broke out of the field ripping rugs and themselves then came hurtling onto the yard lost there footing on the concrete and one of them hit the deck.

The result a vet call out at 6.00pm last night one horse with both his knees cut and his hock along with several other superficial wounds and the other with a trashed rug but only one deeper cut the other 5 superficial.

The more seriously hurt horse is on box rest for 3 days with 2 bandages on and on bute and Antibiotics.

My horse is allowed out he has had antibiotics and 2 bute last night.

They both walked out really well this morning and neither were too swollen or lame so that is one good thing.

I am gutted but as so relived because it could have been much worse.
 
That was lucky. Some people assume that horses are robots and won't be fazed by anything.
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(just posted on this and it seems to have disapeared, so here it goes again!).

Jeez that sounds really scary!!!! Poor horses, glad they were not more seriously hurt and hope they make a full recovery.

The balloon must have been very low flying and must have seen what happened! Did you happen to see a company name on it or other identifying marks? When a balloon landed in the stubble near us (in Yorks) the landowner threatened to sue them and got 5,000 pounds compensation for disturbing the pheasants (and affecting his shoot). You might be able to claim your vets fees off their insurance (if you can find them).
 
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Find the local ballooning school and contact them. The balloon will have a reg number, it will be G****.

The balloons must comply with air law

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Oh thanks for that i will look into it.
 
Your first and best port of call is the British Balloon and Airship Club they are the regulatory body for hot air ballooning in the UK.

If you have a description of the balloon they will more than likely trace the owner for you.

Balloons are different to fixed wing aircraft and due to their nature, fly on the wind, most pilots will try to avoid livestock however by law they can fly as low as 500ft, and during taking off and landing can be a lot lower and also at their loudest. Balloons are also allowed to land nearly anyway.

The BBAC can also set up a sensitive area around your yard, this is not an area that balloons must not go through, but it advises pilots to avoid the area if possible. Which will help stop an incident happening again.

Write a letter giving all facts, times, location, OS Grid reference if possible and keep it factual (try not to be to hysterical if that is the right word) and too the point. Insurance will only pay out if the pilot was not flying within normal aviation practice and the CAA will get involved with a view to prosecution.

However, alot of commercial companies as a measure of goodwill with try and resolve the matter with you, as like horse riders, we all like to use the countryside.

This weather is ideal ballooning weather and if anyone has a club near to you, it is worth giving them a call, with grid reference and explain you do have livestock and could they possibly try to avoid it if at all possible. 99.9% of companies will do if they know you are there.

Hope horses mend quickly, and are none the worse in a few days time for there fright.
 
I am not worried about claiming for the vets bills etc i would just prefer it if they didn’t do it again. I didn’t see the balloon myself so i am trying to get some information together 3rd hand.

Thanks for all you help.
 
Oh poor you thats horrible, definitely contact the company and request that they avoid your property

Balloons are a pain around me (there is a very local launch place). My horses dont take much notice most of the time, but even they are sometimes spooked when they come over very low. And I mean VERY low and then let off the burners
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. I have been known to shout at them
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What a pain, hate animlas hurting themselves, but it sounds like a softly softly approach would get more results, looks like the Balloon people have more rights than we do
 
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