In what can only be described as a very on-brand Lubbock holiday moment, a horse-drawn carriage ride at Kingsgate Center went sideways Tuesday afternoon when two horses crashed, sending a person tumbling out of the carriage and turning a peaceful shopping center into a viral spectacle. A few parked cars were damaged, several phones were raised, and—miraculously—no one was injured.
Kingsgate quickly released a statement assuring everyone that this was a “first-ever incident” in more than 40 years of carriage rides, which is corporate-speak for please don’t cancel us, this has never happened before. They thanked quick-thinking drivers and bystanders, reminded people to drive slowly in parking lots, and emphasized—again—that safety is their “top priority.” Because nothing says safety like horses navigating Christmas traffic next to SUVs.
The carriage ride operators confirmed both horses were checked by a vet and that all carriage rides have been canceled for the rest of the season. Translation: the horses are okay, the cars can be fixed, but the vibes are officially broken until next Christmas.
Meanwhile, a video of the incident circulated online, complete with some festive, family-friendly profanity, because it wouldn’t be a modern Lubbock incident without someone yelling something extremely unprintable while filming vertically.
Forty years without incident—and this is the Christmas we get. Maybe next year we stick to lights, wreaths, and shopping carts that don’t have opinions.
https://www.kcbd.com/2025/12/24/no-injuries-after-carriage-incident-kingsgate-center/