SPANISH LAKE, Mo. _ The horses at the Division Cavalry Brigade barn knew the grass was greener at Larimore Elementary's playground _ just a few hundred yards from their fence.
And on Tuesday, when they saw an opportunity to make a break for it, about half of them did. The sight of loose horses on the campus prompted school officials there to keep children and staff inside the building for about an hour. No one was hurt.
The horses have previously visited the children, and dined on the grass near their playground, while teaching them about Civil War history. It's part of the mission of the nonprofit they belong to, which also serves special needs children and veterans, according to their owner, Terry Crowder.
Students and staff spotted six or seven of the nonprofit's herd of 14 wandering near the campus on Trampe Avenue at about 1 p.m., said Karen Miller, digital communications specialist.
Crowder, 70, arrived an hour later after getting a call from St. Louis County police that his horses were at the school, about 300 yards away from his property. By the time arrived, he said the police had hollered at the horses and they ran back home.
"They still look like they know they did something wrong," he said as a few of the horses filed past him Tuesday afternoon, safely back inside an enclosure.
The leader of Tuesday's pack was Buddy, who is 29, Crowder said. Actor Mel Gibson rode him for one scene in the movie "The Patriot," according to Crowder. (It appears to have been an uncredited role.)
Crowder believes someone accidentally left the gate to one of their pastures open, allowing the horses to escape.
"They know when they do something they're not supposed to," Crowder said.
