Horse names are sometimes thrown around a little too easily in the racing industry. Although, one racehorse with the word ‘Rebel’ in his handle proved he is just that, as he knocked a handler unconscious on Thursday and went on a two-hour swim.
The rebel in question is Rebel Rover, an Australian racehorse who dumped his rider on Thursday and went on to evade his captors for two hours. The ordeal included an 11-kilometre swim in Moreton Bay, which is the Port of Brisbane in Queensland.
“He must have the lung capacity of an absolute freak,” the horse’s trainer, Brad Smith, was quoted as saying. “Normally horses would give up after about 15 minutes, but he still had all that energy even after the two hours.”
The horse had dumped his rider, Jackson Morris, before he decided to go for the extended dip. The prolonged situation attracted onlookers, Brisbane Water Police and a volunteer marine rescue unit.
Rebel Rover tried to get away again as he neared landfall, but Morris made sure he had a tight grip on him. Nevertheless, Rebel Rover wasn’t done, as he delivered what has been described as a ‘head butt’ to the trainer’s father. The blow knocked the man unconscious and he had to be transported to the hospital.
“He’s not the type of horse to strike or kick, head-butting is more his go,” said Smith, “and he lined dad up and knocked him out cold.”
Smith’s father was discharged from hospital the next morning.
(With files from The Courier Mail)