Runaway Horse Takes Morning Sprint Down Wells Street

By Lisa White in News on Dec 20, 2013 10:10PM

Image via YouTube

A cyclist caught on video a very unusual commute Thursday morning in Old Town. No, it wasn’t functioning Ventra machines or CTA buses running ahead of schedule. As Kathleen King rode her bike down Wells Street, a horse suddenly galloped past her heading towards the busy North Ave intersection. “It took me a second to realize it was on its own,” King said. “It was pretty terrifying. It was running straight towards North Ave, which is pretty busy.” The best part is the horse’s name is Forrest Gump. We don’t need to make the obvious joke here, it is just too easy. Watch Forrest run below (sorry, we couldn't help ourselves).

DNAinfo Chicago reported that employees of Antique Coach and Carriage were transferring the horse to a trailer from the stables at Noble Horse Theatre, located at 1410 N. Wells St. King went on to say “I wasn’t scared so much for my own (safety) - I didn’t think the horse was going to charge toward me. But it was frightening in general to see a horse look kind of panicked, and probably very confused, charging through Old Town.”

Debbie Hay, the owner of Antique Coach and Carriage, reported that a man walking in Old Town caught the horse and was holding the animal near Orleans Street and North Avenue. Hay was happy to report that “everything is fine, not a scratch on the horse.” Not to mention the fact that thankfully there wasn’t an accident and no humans were hurt as well. Also, what the hell is that black car doing right after the horse passes by? We're pretty sure speed reversing down Wells is just as dangerous as a runaway horse.

And in odd coincidences, as DNAinfo Chicago points out, the escape occurred exactly one year to the day (and about the same time) after another group of horse escaped from the same stable in Old Town last year.

[h/t Gapers Block.]