Northwest Washington residents capture runaway horse

A runaway horse, without saddle, bridle or rider, galloped through the streets of upper Northwest Washington on Sunday evening, provoking concern and astonishment, and many calls to the police.

The horse's sprint past startled spectators began near the stables in Rock Creek Park and ended quietly on 32nd Place NW, in the Chevy Chase neighborhood.

There were no reports of harm to either the animal or any of those who crossed paths with it on its dash through city streets.

Residents on 32nd were told by one of the many police officers who showed up that in 17 years on the department, he had never seen anything like it.

Scott Ingram was driving near Military Road and Oregon Avenue when he saw the brown horse racing across the grassy field at that corner.

He marveled at the sight, he said, but became concerned when the horse sped from the field, darted through the traffic on Military Road and kept going.

It was "very unusual," said another witness. "Almost mythical."

The horse went one way, then another, he said, often running. Its hectic course took it to Utah Avenue, Tennyson Street and Western Avenue. People began to run after it.

Finally, on 32nd, it slowed down. A woman had a leash, and Ingram said he looped it around the horse's neck. People emerged from their houses with apples, carrots and another leash.

"We were just kind of walking it up and down," Ingram said, "trying to talk to it."

Finally, Ingram said, the horse's handlers arrived, loaded it into a trailer and left.

"They were very thankful," said resident Nora Faber.

Ingram said the handlers told him they had been trying to load the horse into a trailer when it balked. They tried to calm it by letting it graze, but its surroundings were unfamiliar, and at the sound of a dog's bark, it bolted.