Stray horse takes a stroll through downtown Linden
A black horse appeared on courthouse square in Linden early on a morning last week. By itself. No restraints. No human. Downtown streets were fairly vacant when the horse trotted by.
Linden police were soon there, as was State Trooper Wayne Johnson. The problem was apparent. The horse might not easily be caught.
“Troopers and deputies deal with animals like this often,” said Linden Police Chief David Dulude, confidant of his and the other officers.
“They are a lot like wranglers. Always trying to get a loose animal penned or blocked,” he added.
Some person from the sidewalk recognized the horse and knew the owner, who was soon called.
The horse looked at the surroundings and then casually made its way down the East Houston Street toward the laundromat in the next block. But then the animal turned up a dirt incline and onto a grassy corner area where the town’s movie theater was once located. The building is now removed.
Once on that lot, which was a bit elevated and above street level, the horse did not want to jump off and was essentially corralled as citizens and officials blocked its return exit. About this time, the owner arrived.
“The owner just slowly walked over with a little rope and kindly put it around the horse’s neck and nose. And then, holding on, just walked the horse away,” Dulude said.
The pair then walked across the square to East Main and down the roadside headed toward the town cemetery.
“We had a patrol car follow for safety and because the bridle was not that secure. And someone drove the owner’s car back. Everyone just made out like this happened all the time. Guess it does with a small police department.”
“Did the horse order anything while in town?” one citizen sideliner was heard to inquire. The police chief said he thought it did, but he didn’t understand horse language.