Former wrangler speaks out after horse accident

Contributed photo/Blue Eyes before the accident.

UPDATE: This article has been updated with further information about the horse’s condition from Double JJ’s general manager.

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor

ROTHBURY — A former wrangler for the Double JJ Resort reached out to OCP following a car vs. horse accident that occurred the morning of Easter Sunday, April 5.

A 71-year-old New Era woman received minor injuries, and a Double JJ horse was injured when the car the woman was driving was struck by the horse around 9:40 a.m. near the resort.

An Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report states that the woman was traveling south on Water Road near Wilke Road in a 2015 Nissan Sentra when her car was struck by the horse.

The woman was treated at the scene by Life EMS, and her car was towed from the scene. A veterinarian came to the scene to treat the horse, and the horse remains under veterinary care, according to the front desk staff at the Double JJ. 

The former wrangler, who does not wish to be named, claims that 15 other horses were running loose that day due to a broken fence. However, Double JJ General Manager Brandi Williams says that claim is completely false.

Diagram of the car vs. horse accident in the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report.

“Blue Eyes, the horse, is in bad shape with pretty major injuries to her face, including multiple skull fractures, but is alive and at the vet,” she said. “Blue Eyes was my wrangler horse when I worked there, and I am very upset this happened to her. She will never be the same again after this. She went through the driver’s window and rolled down the side of the car.”

Blue Eyes, also called Bluey, is an American Bashkir Curly that is about 10 years old, she said. The former wrangler did not witness the accident.

“The horse is actually doing very, very well,” said Willams, adding that Blue Eyes is expected to make a full recovery and does not have skull fractures as the former wrangler claims. She also stated that the horse did not go through the car’s windshield. She said another horse broke the fence, which allowed other horses to get out of the fenced-in area. “The picture with the broken fence has to be at least three years old. The fence was up and the horse busted through it. There is green grass and it’s spring time, and a 2,500-pound animal decides he wants a different snack and lets everybody loose.”

Blue Eyes had “superficial” injuries, said Williams, and received several stitches. “She cut her nose. It looked terrible, but fortunately it was not.”

“It is a very serious situation,” she said. “Unfortunately, horses do get out. We’re just looking forward to bringing Bluey home.”

Double JJ is the venue for the Electric Forest Festival.

Contributed photo/Blue Eyes and other Double JJ horses standing next to a broken fence.

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