A rescue horse named Ruby has died during a carriage ride in Frankenmuth. H&H Acres and Carriage Service conveyed through social media that Ruby's death occurred suddenly due to a medical emergency. The Frankenmuth Police Department supported this statement, noting in a post that the horse collapsed on Frankenmuth's Covered Bridge around 4:30 p.m. last Saturday and died instantly, as reported by The Detroit News.
According to the Audacy coverage of the incident, no passengers were in the carriage at the time of the incident, and the carriage tipped slightly as a result of the horse's fall. The driver was unharmed, and a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction incurred minor damage, but there was no collision with the carriage. The horse was later returned to its originating farm, and the Frankenmuth Police continue their investigation into the circumstances of Ruby's death.
The horse, Ruby, was a survivor of a kill pen before finding home with H&H Acres, where she learned to trust people again and enjoyed her time engaging with the community, as noted in an emotional post by H&H shared by the Lansing State Journal. The carriage service emphasized that their primary focus is the welfare of their animals, stating, "Every dollar earned goes back into caring for our horses — providing quality feed, veterinary care, and comfortable lives."
Ruby's body was taken to Michigan State University for a necropsy to determine the cause of the medical emergency, H&H Acres confirmed. This happened against the backdrop of Frankenmuth’s Bavarian charm and frequent carriage rides.
