Horsebox on fire!

[alison247]

I heard earlier at about 5 ish on the radio that the M25 is down to one lane in Kent/surrey due to a horsebox on fire.
This was on the travel news and the only info given.
My heart went in my mouth and I can't stop thinking about it.
I really do hope it was empty!!!!
I just said to my hubby I can't think of anything worse!
What do you do?
Wait for the police to stop the traffic before you unload or just do it?
Our two older bombproof ponies might well cope but my daughters TB mare - well she'd be run over for sure.
You just can't hold panicing horses can you!
Please someone tell me it was empty and if not that all is well.

 

[floradora09]

Not heard anything, but it sounds awful! I'd pull over as much as possible and unload, but keep the horses on the side of the box nearest the hedge/verge. I guess the traffic would automatically slow and steer clear of you, I guess you'd have the weigh up the risks, if I had a sensible pony I'd unload, but if my horse was stupid I'd have to think carefully- if the fire isn't major and can wait a few short while I'd wait for police maybe, but it also depends where the fire was on the lorry!

 

[Vizslak]

Petrifing, I have witnessed this at a racecourse when grooming, end of the day all packing up to go, a few boxes leaving etc one box fully loaded caught on fire as they started pulling away, we all shouted to alert them, one of their grooms jumped out the cab and we pulled the ramp down and unloaded horses rapidly just on headcollars as horsebox still moving as they had to get it away from other horses and lorries. No one was hurt and the horses were fine but the relief that it had happened before they got onto the road and were easily alerted as soon as it started was immense. We were all jibbering blubbering wrecks sat on the grass when the panic was over and everything made safe.
I really hope the horses and people involved in this incident are all ok.

 

[spike123]

If I hadn't heard from my friend at around that time of day I would be sat here worried sick as a good friend of mine has just moved from Kent to Dorset with her horse today.I know that her horse has settled in well to her new stable and they are on their way back to kent with the trailer which is borrowed.Fingers crossed it is not connected and I am fairly sure it isn't.