The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

The downtown Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Rhinelander got off to a good start Friday evening with a large crowd on hand to welcome Santa Claus, who arrived by horse-drawn carriage, and to see the tree lit. But the evening took a turn for the worse when the lights came on, startling a team of two horses.

Wisconsin Tavern League President Rob Swearingen and Mayor Richard Johns had just delivered their opening remarks from a small stage in Stevensport Square when Johns and Santa gave a countdown and flipped the switch on the tree’s lights. While the crowd marveled at the lights, the team of horses from Western Connection Ranch bolted after being startled by the sudden burst of light.

The horses, still harnessed to their carriage, charged out of the parking lot onto Davenport Street, running over one man in the process. The horses crossed the street, went onto the north side sidewalk and turned east toward the courthouse. They ran over two light poles near the Masonic Lodge and at least one parked vehicle was damaged.

The horses ran loose in the city for a short time before they were corralled.

The man who was run over in the parking lot was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital. The extent of his injuries were not known but were believed to be non-life threatening.

Sue Bessert, executive director of Downtown Rhinelander Inc., could only say that event organizers were hoping and praying everyone would be OK.

The commotion drew much attention away from the ceremony, though many stayed in the square to listen to the music of David Dall, visit with Santa and take a whack at the pinata.

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

Craig wrote on Dec 1, 2008 4:20 PM:

" Some of these comments about banning horses are insane. During situations like that there should have been two people looking after them such as one in the drivers seat with there hands on the lines so that if something startled the horses they would still have some control or at least a calming voice behind them like they are accustom to. It is unfortunate that this occured when it could have been a pleasant occasion with horses involved. The question is were the horses ever exposed to this kind of situation before? People do not blame the horses, blame the handler. I wasn't there but I would bet that it could have been avoided if the handler was doing there job properly. After all we haven't banned the govornment yet for all of there mistakes but what a difference it would have been if the handler had been different! "

Mabel Dybisch wrote on Nov 30, 2008 5:01 PM:

" I was there it was awful. Two horses charged up the front porch of old lady Markal's house, snorting in the night with smoke billowing out their nostrils and hooves beating down her posy garden. She had such a fright her legs got tangled in her hosiery and she ruptured her hip. The young Rothchild boy found her crying in a ditch and comforted her throughout the night. Many people suffered mental distress after witnessing this. "

ALAN B. DAVIS wrote on Nov 30, 2008 1:09 AM:

" They would have been better off with more "rein" than snow. "

Deitrich Johannsen wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:18 PM:

" This is why there should be a complete ban on horseplay at public functions! "

Whisperer wrote on Nov 29, 2008 6:12 PM:

" About as much forethought as the WalMart store in LI. "

Hodag87 wrote on Nov 29, 2008 11:16 AM:

" "the team of horses...bolted after being startled by the sudden burst of light." ?? No, it was the reaction of the crowd that startled them. The horses were negligently left unattended, not tied to anything immobile and no one in the wagon holding the reins. Animals and crowds don't always mix, no matter how they've behaved in the past. Thankfully no one was killed, but the owners should be held responsible. "

Jeff hagelin wrote on Nov 29, 2008 10:59 AM:

" The man that was ran over, was the owner of the team , as he was tring to stop them and calm them . He broke his ankle,and bumped his head ..
He will be fine.. "

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.