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Half of Matheran's 900 horses galloping illegally

The death of a seven-year-old NRI girl has again shed light on Matheran tour guides operating horses without licences. According to sources, of the 900 or so horses at Matheran, only 460 are licensed.

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Unlicensed horse owners usually operate from isolated spots
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The death of a seven-year-old NRI girl has again shed light on Matheran tour guides operating horses without licences. According to sources, of the 900 or so horses at Matheran, only 460 are licensed.

The tourist while visiting these places should be aware to check the identity cards of the owners and whether the horse is licensed or not.

Dr Dharmaraj Raibole , LDO (livestock development officer), Matheran, said, "There are 460 horses in Matheran which are licensed. In a week we get one horse brought in for gelding, so he does not get excited and jump. Horses are checked periodically, but there are cases where horses react abnormally."

He adds,"The horse which dragged the girl is seven years old and was gelded. We checked him and he is normal. We have asked his owner not to work him for two weeks and we will check him again on April 5 or 6."

A local said, "Whenever any horse dies they bring another horse and give him the name of the dead horse and use his license. Here the locals earn mainly from horse riding. While one can find licensed horses at Dasturinaka, these unlicensed horse owners stand at isolated spots and unaware tourists hire them."

Dr. Raibole further adds that, "There are illegal horses also but we do not treat them as they are not allowed to keep here and only licensed horses are allowed to keep here.

A local resident of Matheran Ajay Patil (Name Changed), "there are horses illegal also and it was because of them there are many illegal activities going on in Matheran. Police only have record of horses but the name plate of a dead horse can be used by another one. Here horses are treated badly they are given so much of weight and are forced to pull till hill top which many a times they become paranoid. Also many horse do not get food to eat and that they cannot eat any other thing on road their mouth is tied with a plastic bag. Also the horse dung is not being cleaned here because of which many trees have died and that now Dasturi naka place is about get shift".

(Dasturi naka is place which is start point of Matheran and where horses are available)

Dr. Uday Tambe, Matheran hospital doctor says that, "The girl who died had received head injury and left eye side also was injured. The right side above her eyes got deep injury near her ear and also a hole. As the girl was dragged up to 200 meter her skin was torn up to 3cm. Right side brain was damaged. When the incident took place the parents did give her cardiac massage which should be according to the problem. The girl was also given mouth to mouth resustication but than she did not respond to them. The family have given in written that they have no objection on the horse owner and that it was an accidental death".

Tambe further adds that, "In a month twice cases of riders getting injured are reported. The girl was brought dead to the hospital and her post mortem was done at J J hospital. If her leg did not get stuck in the saddle, she would have been alive with few injuries. Though the parents have not filed any case but there should be an inquiry of what made horse to run so fast. The girl head was down and leg was upside to which stones have hit on her head of which she succumbed to her injuries".

A Police official from Matheran says that, "The incident took place on Tuesday March 31 in evening at around 4.45pm approximately on the little chowk to race ground. Parents along with one daughter were ahead and the deceased was in between and her one sister and brother were back on a horse. They had come on March 30 and that the horse owner were sharing a good relation. It was when the girl wanted to ride the horse the parents asked to leave the horse of which the brother horse over took her to which her horse also came in motion but the girl did not realize this and fell down from the horse and where she got injuries".

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