Runaway horse stopped before Santa Fe parade
Runaway horse captured by police on motorbikes
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Warm-up
- Have you ever seen a parade? What was it like?
- What animals live near your town or city?
- What should you do if you see a loose animal?
Vocabulary
- parade
- a public event where people march or ride along a street
- escape
- to get away from a place or person
- unharmed
- not hurt or injured
- motorbike
- a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine
- corner
- to force a person or animal into a place with no way out
- lasso
- a long rope with a loop, used to catch animals
- cowboy
- a person who works with cattle and horses, often on a ranch
- department
- a part of an organisation, such as the police in a city
Reading
People were waiting for a parade in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on 13 September, when a horse escaped from its owner. The animal was unharmed, but it ran through the streets. Police officers followed it on motorbikes and tried to guide it away from traffic.
After a short chase, the officers cornered the horse. A cowboy arrived with a lasso and wrangled it safely. The horse was given a drink of water and calmed down.
Santa Fe Police Department said in a Facebook post that the horse was walked back to the start of the Desfile de la Gente parade. The event was about to begin when the escape happened. Thanks to the quick work, the horse and people nearby were safe, and the parade could go ahead.
Comprehension
- Where did the horse run away?
- When did the horse escape?
- How did the police follow the horse?
- Who used a lasso to catch the horse?
- Where was the horse taken after it was caught?
Grammar focus
Past continuous
Use the past continuous (was/were + verb‑ing) to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It often appears with while/when/as to show an action happening when something else occurred. (Example 2 constructed.)
- People **were waiting** for a parade in Santa Fe on 13 September.
- Police **were watching** as the horse ran through the streets.
Grammar exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct past continuous form.
- Police officers (follow) ___ it on motorbikes as people moved away.
- A cowboy (ride) ___ towards the animal and threw a lasso.
- The horse (run) ___ through the streets until officers cornered it.
- Bystanders (stand) ___ nearby and waited for help to arrive.
- Other horses (act) ___ nervously at the parade that day.
Discussion
- Would you like to watch this parade? Why or why not?
- What is the best way to calm a scared animal?
- Should police use motorbikes for animal chases? Why?
- What public events are popular in your country?
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