The owner said, ‘I don’t want anything to do with him’. Thankfully, the horse’s rescuer has now taken him in(Image: Blossom Hill Equestrian Centre)

A horse that ran loose on the M32 earlier this weekend is being nursed back to health by new owners. Four-year-old ‘Dash’ was rescued by equestrian Jade Plummer, 31, after getting loose on the motorway on Friday night, May 16.

Jade was driving back from Wales with a friend when she accidentally made a wrong turn onto the dual carriageway. She’s now grateful she did, as if it wasn’t for that mistake she would never have rescued the horse.

Noticing the startled animal, Jade drove after him and managed to get him out of harm’s way and onto the hard shoulder on the M4: “I was in my car trying to keep him on the hard shoulder so he wouldn’t get hit.”

She ended up having to get out of her car and run after him: “It took us a good hour or so to catch him. […] We didn’t really think about it – we were more worried about him being hit by a vehicle.”

Dash had caused quite a bit of traffic chaos, with the M32 being closed while the incident was dealt with. A representative of National Highways said: “The M32 in Bristol is closed southbound between M4 J19 and J1 (Filton) due to a horse loose on the carriageway. Northbound traffic is being temporarily held.

“Avon and Somerset Police are in attendance. Delays are likely on approach to the closure and diversion routes.”

The police and the owner eventually showed up. But according to Jade, he wouldn’t take responsibility for his horse: “He said ‘I don’t want him, I don’t anything to do with him’.” It was eventually agreed that Jade, who manages Blossom Hill Equestrian Centre in Gloucester, would take care of him.

She named him ‘Dash’ and quickly took him to a vet, who revealed that the horse was four-years-old, despite being so underweight he looked more like he was 18 months old. They later discovered that he had a range of health issues, including skin tumours.

The whole Blossom Hill team are now nursing him back to health: “Considering he was so nervous when we got him, he’s so lovely, he’s really sweet.”

Jade has now started up a GoFundMe to pay for his vet treatment. You can donate or share the fundraiser online.