Police are asking for members of the public to help identify a man who rode into a train station on a pony and racially abused and threatened members of staff with a whip.
A CCTV image has been released of the moment he rode into Windsor and Eton Riverside railway station at approximately 3pm on 4 January.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said the man became abusive when he was confronted by a member of station staff after he had ridden through the booking hall towards the platforms.
Detective constable Rod Harbron, leading the investigation, said: “When challenged by a member of station staff, he racially abused them and threatened to assault them with a riding crop.”
The 32-year-old staff member called the police but the rider had already fled the scene by the time the authorities arrived.
DC Harbron added: “A busy station is no place for horses and rail operators have every right to refuse access to people with animals under the railway byelaws.
“The member of staff was just doing their job and racial abuse and threats will not be tolerated.”
A spokesman for the South West Trains Network Rail Alliance said: “We will not tolerate this type of behaviour against our staff and will work with BTP to identify those responsible.”
Anyone with any information should call BTP on 0800 405040, or text 61016, quoting reference B9(S-SUB) of 25/02/2015.
Pony express
This is not the first incident in recent years involving horses and railway stations. A 12.2hh Welsh Sec A pony hit the headlines in 2011 after footage was released of her owner trying to board a train with her.
When a conductor refused him entry, the man returned to the ticket booth where he tried to buy two tickets — for himself and the animal.
CCTV camera footage showed the man at the ticket booth with the grey pony waiting patiently behind as he tries to buy the fares and then on the platform.
An Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) spokesman said: “Horses and ponies, which may pose a risk to the general public, are not permitted to travel.
“Only dogs, and small animals in a fully enclosed basket or pet carrier, can travel on our trains.”
