Horse-drawn carriage overturns in busy Fuengirola square after horse bolts, leaving two women injured

A horse-drawn carriage overturned in the heart of Fuengirola on Tuesday afternoon after the horse bolted, leaving two women injured and causing disruption in one of the town’s busiest areas.

Emergency services were called to Plaza de la Constitucion at around 3.30pm after the carriage reportedly crashed into a van and a motorcycle before overturning. Despite the dramatic scenes, the horse escaped without injury.

Horse bolted shortly before crash in Fuengirola

Initial reports indicate the horse first began trotting unusually near Plaza Reyes Catolicos before becoming uncontrollable a short distance later. According to emergency services, the carriage hit a barrier before crossing into the opposite lane, where it collided with a van of some kind and a motorcycle waiting at traffic lights.

Witnesses reported seeing the carriage overturn in Plaza de la Constitucion, bringing traffic to a standstill as police and paramedics rushed to the scene.

Local police have not yet explained what caused the horse to bolt, and no official cause has been released.

Carriage driver taken to Hospital Costa del Sol

Emergency crews treated two women following the collision. The carriage driver suffered a blow to the head and an ankle injury but managed to climb out of the overturned carriage without assistance. Paramedics later transferred the driver by ambulance to Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella for further assessment. The motorcyclist escaped with minor injuries after suffering a blow to the ankle during the collision.

Local police and healthcare workers were still at the scene while traffic was managed and the damaged carriage removed.

Horse escaped unhurt despite dramatic collision

Remarkably, the horse was reported to be uninjured despite the force of the crash. Images from the scene showed the overturned carriage lying in the roadway as emergency services worked around the vehicle. Initial reports described the other vehicle as a lorry, while local television referred to it as a delivery van. Neither description changes the sequence of events confirmed by emergency services, which state the carriage collided with a commercial vehicle before overturning.

No damage figures have been released, and there has been no official explanation yet for why the horse bolted.

The horse debate in Fuengirola reopens

Fuengirola Town Hall had not issued a public statement on the incident by Tuesday evening, and there has been no announcement of any review of horse-drawn carriage regulations or safety measures in the town, but this incident no doubt reopen the debate over tourist rides by horse in the town.

Horse-drawn carriages remain a familiar sight during Fuengirola’s equestrian celebrations and local festivities, with the town hosting its annual ‘Fuengirola A Caballo’ events in the same central streets used by residents and visitors throughout the year. Animal rights activists are already calling for the instant abolition of the tourist custom. Council leaders must also be asking themselves now if Fuengirola has become far too crowded and full of traffic for horses, especially considering public safety. Mayor Ana Mula acted decisively following the horrific car crash in Torreblanca last year by having installed multiple speed impediments. What changes are to come after this accident are yet to be seen.

Emergency services, including 112 Andalucia, health workers and local police, attended the incident. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the horse bolting are continuing, although no official cause has yet been identified.