Couple left heartbroken after horse electrocuted

THE owner of a horse that was killed when a corroded power line snapped and electrocuted her in a field has spoken of the trauma of the incident.

Holi Scott and her fiancé Harry Stirland said the ordeal of losing their beloved horse Coco has been made worse because the power company responsible for her death is disagreeing over the amount of compensation they should pay the couple

Holi, 29, says Western Power Distribution told her that they were valuing nine-year-old Coco “as if she were a car”, and offered what they claimed the market rate for the horse would have been if Holi were to sell her

Now the couple say they are locked in a distressing battle with the power company.

Holi and Harry moved Coco to a field and paddock on the northwestern edge of Bristol in March.

Holi had owned, trained and ridden Coco since she was a two-yearold, and had just got her ready to show. She lived with Holi’s other much-loved horse, Billy, who was in retirement at the age of 29.

But on April 30, a power cable that crosses the field snapped off one of its poles and fell onto Coco, electrocuting her.

Vets who attended the incident advised Holi not to see Coco as the scene would be too distressing.

Harry said: “We got a call from the lady we rent the field off, telling us something had happened and that the power company were there, and one of the horses was lying there.”

The couple rushed up to the field to find a distressed Billy bolting around the field, and Western Power Distribution officials not letting them go near.

“It was like walking into a completely horrendous, surreal situation,” said Harry.

“The area manager of Western Power Distribution was there, and wouldn’t let us go nearer, because it was still dangerous.”

The field has a public footpath running through it, which Holi said is used often.

Now there is a gruesome and poignant scar on the ground where Coco fell.

“The power line fell onto Coco, but it could so easily have hit both Coco and Billy, or us if we were there, or in fact anyone walking through at the time,” said Holi.

Western Power Distribution reportedly told the couple that the power line connector had been checked the previous September, so they don’t regard themselves as being negligent, but they admitted responsibility for Coco’s death without prejudice.

“Then we heard from an assessor whose job was to decide how much compensation they were going to pay us,” said Harry.

For Holi, there wasn’t any amount of money that could quantify her lossand trauma over the way her beloved horse had been killed.

Harry said: “They were very sympathetic, and we explained that this was very difficult for us because there was no money anyone could offer us for Coco – she was one of the family.

“So it was hard for us to put a figure on it, because also it’s not just about the basic value of Coco, it’s all about the years Holi has spent with her.”

The couple said Western Power Distribution’s assessor offered compensation of £4,500, which Holi and Harry say is less than the market value for a horse of Coco’s age, pedigree, skills, training and experience.

“They said they unfortunately had to assess how much money to pay as if she were a car,” said Holi.

“It just does not take into account what happened, the years we’ve had and the traumatic loss. She was priceless.”

The couple said the back-andforth over this has further traumatised Holi.

“We can’t begin to grieve,” said Harry. “It’s an infuriating process.

“They are paying the least amount possible, without any regard to all of the emotional damage.”

A spokesperson for Western Power Distribution said that the firm was working with the owners to reach a settlement.

“We can confirm there was an incident involving electrical equipment in South Gloucestershire, which sadly resulted in the death of a horse,” he said.

“Since the incident, we have carried out and completed all appropriate investigations.

“We are now working with the owners to reach a settlement that is acceptable to all parties, following this unfortunate event.”

They said they unfortunately had to assess how much money to pay as if she were a car ... She

was priceless

Holi Scott and her beloved horse Coco