A coach whose yard went up in flames in minutes has spoken about the importance of having a fire safety plan – and for everyone on the yard to be aware of it.

CCTV footage captured how quickly a fire spread at Tori Peter’s private yard in Lancashire when a hay store caught fire in September. Smoke could be seen at 5.59am, and by 6.11am flames had grown to “almost 30 feet”.

Tori had friends staying with their horses for training, and when one got up to feed them she discovered the fire and raised the alarm. Under Tori’s instruction, all the horses were safely evacuated from their smoke-filled stables to the arena, before the fire service arrived within seven minutes of being contacted.

“The roof lining of the stables attached to the hay store was on fire and the flames were spreading along the roof above the horses. Another five or 10 minutes and the smoke would have killed them, never mind the flames,” Tori told H&H.

Tori’s yard CCTV captured how quickly the fire grew:

“There was no fuel or chemicals stored in the barn, thank God, but there was a quad parked about three metres from the barn and that melted, the windows and gutters melted. Everything had gone.”

Tori had a fire plan but said as it was close friends staying, she had not thought to tell them the procedure.

“I have everything that’s required; the correct fire extinguishers, fire blankets and bells, but because I hadn’t briefed my friends they didn’t know what to do or what the process was,” she said.

“I had to tell them which horses to evacuate first, and where to put them. You never know how people will react in an emergency and it was mayhem. Afterwards my friend said how good it was that I had a plan, but had she not got up, I wouldn’t have been able to put my plan into action.”

Now forensics have concluded, determining that the fire had been started either by a cigarette being flicked from the road that overlooks the yard or from straw combusting, Tori has spoken out to urge others to have plans, and make others aware of these plans, and fire drills.

“What happened was horrendous, but the horses were fine and if we can get more people to be safe then that’s a positive,” said Tori, adding that since the incident, when she has asked others about fire plans she has been concerned by how many do not have them or hold fire drills.

“Stables are often made from wood, there is hay, straw, electricals – we need to be having fire drills,” she said. “The CCTV footage shows how quickly the fire spread; you don’t have time to mess around. And it’s not just having one plan, you need multiple depending on where the fire starts. And an important part is making sure that others know your plan, because what if you’re not there?”

Tori posted the CCTV images on Facebook, and they have been shared more than 7,400 times.

“I’ve had a lot of people approach me to thank me for sharing it because either they didn’t have a fire plan, or they did and no one else knew it,” she said.

Although the fire was not started by an electrical fault, Tori has since had her yard rewired, rebuilt and moved her barn, and she now keeps hay in a lined shipping container. She has also employed Aurora Group Services to provide 24/7 CCTV monitoring.

“We can’t be outside watching over everything all the time so the CCTV monitoring has been a game-changer and only costs £20 per week,” she said. “After the fire I was worried about being in the house and not being able to see the stables, I was worried about going to work, and I was getting up through the night to view the CCTV to check that everything was OK. It’s only since I’ve had the monitoring that I’ve been able to relax.

“I’ve been alerted when a gate is left open, or someone arrives on the yard, and in the event of a fire they will instantly phone the fire brigade. When I’m at home alone overnight I feel more secure knowing there is someone watching over everything.”

Oonagh Meyer, head of operations for approved centres at the British Horse Society (BHS), reminded equestrians that holding and recording fire drills is a legal requirement for businesses.

“The risk of a fire at yards is an all too real danger that we must be prepared for,” she told H&H. “Fires can spread extremely quickly and cause irreparable damage, which sadly can lead to fatalities – whether that be a horse, a person or both.

“The BHS recommends that any yard owner, worker or equestrian prepares and familiarises themselves with a fire action plan. Holding regular drills will also mean that everyone on the yard, at any time, will know what to do in the event of a fire.”

Fire safety tips

The BHS recommends having an evacuation plan that is well rehearsed and known by everyone on the yard.

• Keep firefighting equipment on the yard and keep it regularly maintained
• Ensure all combustible materials such as bedding, hay, and straw are stored away from stables
• Ensure electrics are tested at least once a year by a qualified electrician
• Ensure gangways and escape routes are kept clear
• Have headcollars available outside in case of evacuation
• Signpost or number evacuation paddock gates and recorded which stables need to be evacuated into which paddock. In the case of evacuation, always start with the horses closest to the fire
• If a fire breaks out, call the fire and rescue service immediately.

Find out more about what you can do to protect your yard from fires at www.bhs.org.uk.

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A para dressage horse escaped serious injury after a “freak accident” while in transit resulted in him being cut out of his trailer by firefighters.

Grade II para dressage rider Julie Payne was travelling home from the Hartpury International (4-7 July) with nine-year-old gelding Divinity, who is known at home as Leo, when she felt her horsebox start to swing on the A40.

Julie, who competed at the 2017 European Para Dressage Championships, told H&H: “Leo is normally such a good traveller, you don’t even know he’s in the box. The only time you ever feel him is if he moves to wee.

“We came round a roundabout and felt the box move so assumed he was having a wee. But then it happened again and the box started swaying in all directions.”

Julie stopped in a lay-by and discovered Leo had got his front legs over the breast bar of the rear-facing trailer.

“The trailer has tack lockers on the outside which form a box in front of the bar so I didn’t think there was any way for a horse to get their legs over,” she said.

“We couldn’t take the side ramp down because it opens onto the road and Leo was struggling to free himself so we had to phone the police, fire brigade and vet for help.”

During the struggle Leo managed to catch his shoes on his haynet and pushed his hooves through the top of the tack locker. When help arrived the police shut the dual carriageway in both directions, Leo was sedated and a crew from Witney fire station assessed the situation.

“Leo had started to overheat, but we had to wait for a specialist animal rescue unit to arrive from Kidlington before we could get him out,” said Julie. “All of a sudden he struggled again, tried to tip onto his side and it took the vet and two firemen to hold him up. The way one of his legs was stuck, if he’d have gone over he would have broken it.”

The fire crews dismantled the box and freed Leo, and after an assessment from the vet it was agreed he was well enough to be taken home.

“A friend collected him and took him back to my yard 15 minutes away. He had scrapes to his legs and was given antibiotics and painkillers. Really he was lucky not to have broken both front legs, but he came sound three days later,” said Julie.

“The fire crew and my vet, Charlotte Couth, from Bourton Vale Equine Clinic were absolutely fantastic. We think it was entirely a freak accident – he usually travels so well and we can’t think what made him do it. He’s such a big horse at more than 17hh and we didn’t think it was even possible. Charlotte suggested maybe he got bitten or stung by something – we just don’t know.”

Julie has had her box repaired and a higher bar has been installed as a “precaution”.

“Leo is still having physio and chiropractic treatment for soft tissue damage, but he is getting there and the plan is to start building him back up. Next week’s plan is to see how he gets on going back in the box, and I hope we’ll be out competing again soon,” she said.

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Fires caused “significant” damage and yards were forced to evacuate in frightening scenes during the UK’s record-breaking heatwave yesterday (19 July).

A total of 15 fire services across Britain declared major incidents, including London, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Yorkshire and the east of England.

The National Horseracing College (NRC) sustained “significant damage” to one of its barns in a fire, started by powerlines crossing the Yorkshire site. All students, staff and horses are safe.

“The reaction of learners and staff in the face of this very challenging situation has been fantastic,” said NHC chief executive colonel Stephen Padgett.

“The fire brigade responded despite difficult conditions to minimise the damage and to prevent the incident from being any worse than it already was.

“Appreciation of and gratitude for the efforts of all involved. Business will be affected but we are already making plans to sustain operations. Onwards and upwards for the college.”

Further south,The London Fire Brigade recorded its “busiest day since World War II”. Control took more than 2,670 calls and crews dealt with more than 1,146 incidents.

More than 40 houses and shops, as well as garages, farm buildings, vehicles and outbuildings, were destroyed after grass fires spread to buildings in the London area, which included Wennington, Dagenham and Kenton. A total of 16 firefighters were injured, and two were taken to hospital.

At least 14 properties were destroyed in Norfolk, five in Lincolnshire, and more elsewhere across the country.

In Kent, workers and volunteers helped move horses and other animals at Spirit’s Rest Animal Sanctuary to safety from a large grass fire in surrounding fields.

Serious wildfires are also affecting swathes of mainland Europe.

Thousands of people have had to leave their homes in southwest France, as violent forest fires affect the Gironde region in the southwest of the country, particularly Landiras and La Teste-de-Buch.

La Teste-de-Buch racecourse is home to 370 horses in training and the majority of these have been moved.

Racecourses at Bordeaux, Pau, Langon and Mont de Marsan, plus private yards such as Haras des Faunes and Haras de Saubouas have welcomed the equine evacuees.

A total of 15 horses remain at La Teste-de-Buch, which has now become a base for firefighters.

The situation is evolving rapidly, but course president Jacques Le Dantec gave a cautiously hopeful update in a video on Tuesday night.

He spoke of the solidarity showed by the racing and equestrian communities, who offered their help, services and transport.

He added that a 50m-wide “firewall” has been cleared to protect the racecourse from the fire, should it reach them, and plans are in place to get everyone – humans and the remaining horses – to safety should they need to leave in an emergency.

Greece, Spain and Portugal are also experiencing devastating fires connected to the heatwave.

Among those affected in Portugal was the A Palmeirinha riding centre in the Algarve, which was destroyed by fire. All horses were saved.

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A horse trapped by fallen trees with “inches to spare” was rescued “without a scratch” in a remarkable three-hour operation.

Cintia, an 11-year-old part-bred Arab, narrowly escaped serious injury and waited calmly for her rescuers to free her during Storm Eunice on Friday (18 February).

Katey Cuthbertson, who works for Biddesden Stud where Cintia was bred, received a call from the mare’s now owner Katie Rossiter (“she’s five minutes down the road”) asking if she would come and help, as Cintia was trapped by a fallen trees.

“I got there and I couldn’t believe it,” Katey told H&H, adding that the trees that fell had not been growing in the horse’s field, but had fallen in from the other side of the fence.

“It was as though she was in stocks, she couldn’t move.

“The ironic thing is that she hadn’t left her in because behind the stable there’s a long line of conifer trees and she thought those could be dangerous if they fell during the storm.”

The trees came down at around 4.30pm, when the worst of the storm was thought to have passed.

“She was bred to event, but was just too quiet to be an event horse, which is why she was sold,” said Katey.

That calmness came into its own, as the mare didn’t panic and instead waited sensibly – with a haynet – for more help to arrive.

“I was in there with her while we waited for the vet to arrive, I ended up tying a haynet there for her and she just stood and ate,” she said.

“She was completely unscathed, it missed her by inches.”

They called McGonnell and Gillatt Equine Vets and Devon and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, who attended. Vet Ellen Harris gave the mare some sedation and the fire crews sought advice from a tree surgeon before chopping up the trunks. With the help of a tractor from a local farm, Cintia was freed with “not a scratch” on her.

“She is absolutely fine and went out the next morning, galloping and bucking,” said Katey.

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Firefighters stepped in to save a heavily pregnant mare whose leg had gone through a horsebox wall in their second equine rescue in three days.

Blue Watch from Alfreton Community Fire Station, Derbyshire, were called to the aid of the mare, who was being taken to York to give birth, on 3 June.

“We had a call to say the horse was stuck,” watch crew member Mick Bollands told H&H. “Her leg had gone through the side of the horsebox and was sticking out; it looked a bit horrible when we got there.

“The drivers had pulled over and undid the partition, and the horse had fallen over on to her side, and she was stuck.”

A vet was called to sedate the mare and the crew made a plan to free her.

“We cut a hole around where her leg was stuck, put a couple of strops around her and pulled her back into the lorry,” Mr Bollands said.

“Because they weren’t far away from home, we blocked the hole up so they could drive back to the farm. The vet sedated the horse again and we pulled her out of the lorry and she went into her field.

“We had a message later from the owner to say everything was ok.”

Mr Bollands said the mare suffered only grazes and minor cuts where she was stuck.

Alfreton is the base for the county’s large-animal rescue unit, with a specialist lorry-mounted crane. This had been put to good use on 1 June to save 33-year-old mare Jade, who had gone down in her field and could not get back up.

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The crew left her standing and eating treats.

“We’re trying to get the message out as not everyone knows there’s a crew here that does animal rescues,” Mr Bollands said. “We go to a lot of older horses who can’t get up, and try to give them a chance and get them back on their feet.”

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A pony found tangled in wire fencing and barely able to walk has had a lucky escape.

The RSPCA was contacted after passers-by noticed the “stricken” pony in a field by Irthlingborough Road in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, on Sunday (21 February) evening.

A spokesman for the charity said the passers-by were immediately concerned to see the gelding struggling to move owing to the wire around his back legs.

“They called for help and animal rescue inspector Beckie Harlock arrived to assess the situation; she soon saw the wire was too thick to be cut with standard wire cutters,“ said the spokesman.

Beckie said the pony was finding it very difficult to take any steps as the wire was so tightly tangled around his legs.

“He really needed our help because if he’d been left any longer the wire may have cut into his skin and caused some serious damage,” she said.

“Once I realised the wire was too thick for the standard wire cutters I keep in my van, I knew I’d need to ask the fire service for assistance as they have very strong heavy duty cutters that would make light work of the wire and quickly free the pony.”

Crew from Northants Fire and Rescue Service met Beckie at the field and freed the gelding.

“I’d put a headcollar on the pony to keep him still and calm and they were able cut him free in no time. I checked him over and he wasn’t hurt by the wire which was lucky, and I made sure to clear the paddock of any more loose wire I could see,” she said.

Continued below… 

Mare and gelding stuck in mud for 18 hours following landslide

“They were both stuck up to their chests in the mud and could not have escaped on their own”

‘Terrified’ colt rescued from muddy ditch by RSPCA and firefighters

“We couldn’t have done it without them and are always so grateful for their support in rescuing animals whenever they

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“We’re really grateful to people who contact us when animals are in need of our help. I’m glad we were able to help this pony out and watch him wander off with his field mates.”

The spokesman told H&H the RSPCA will be keeping an eye on the ponies. He added through winter the charity expects to rescue thousands of animals from neglect, cruelty, and suffering.

“Already this winter we have received more than 82,000 calls, but the calls to our rescue line are not stopping so neither will we”.

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A mare who became “well and truly trapped” up to her neck in a slurry pit has been rescued by fire crews in a difficult three-hour operation.

On Sunday (31 January) Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service and local farmers were called to help the 26-year-old mare called Angel, who had become stuck in the pit in Kendal, Cumbria.

A spokesman for Kendal Fire Station said crews from Kendal White, Milnthorpe on-call, Kendal on-call and SM Leather were mobilised to the incident at around 9.55am.

“A horse had become trapped in an access pit to a slurry store approximately a metre square,” he said.

“Crews worked tirelessly, along with the farmer to free the horse, using the farmers’ two diggers and tele-handler. The crews quite literally dug the horse out, then using animal rescue kit, lifted the horse to safety.”

The spokesman added that the rescue was a “very difficult job in difficult conditions”.

Continued below…

Rider trapped in ditch under 18hh gelding thanks rescuers

“I wasn’t crushed but I still had my legs on either side of Nasa and they were pinned”

Mare and gelding stuck in mud for 18 hours following landslide

“They were both stuck up to their chests in the mud and could not have escaped on their own”

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“A huge thanks must go to the Milnthorpe crew; their knowledge of animals and the building trade were priceless,” he said.

“Well done to all involved, a real team effort that lasted approximately three hours. The horse was successfully rescued and is now hopefully going to make a full recovery.”

The forced shared images of the rescue on social media in a post that has been shared more than 3,000 times. A spokesman added: “As you can see by the pictures, she was well and truly trapped”.

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A horse and pony who were stuck up to their chests in mud for up to 18 hours following a landslide are recovering following their “dramatic” rescue.

The owners found the mare, and a pony in his 20s stuck on 28 January in Salinas, Monterey County, California, which had been hit by severe rainfall and flash flood warnings. 

A spokesman for SPCA Monterey County, a welfare charity that assisted in the rescue, told H&H the area had experienced a “debris flow” the previous night, which had destroyed the fencing of the pasture where the mare and gelding were kept.

“We believe they wandered out after the fences were gone, and then became stuck in the mud. They were both stuck up to their chests in the mud and could not have escaped on their own,” he said. 

“When the owners found the horses, they immediately flagged down passing fire departments and contacted SPCA Monterey County for help.”

A multi-agency rescue took place lasting around two hours with crews from Hayward, Oakland, Alameda County and Fremont, Marina and Fresno fire departments, the Monterey County Regional Fire District and the Monterey County Public Works. 

A spokesman for Fremont Fire Department described the rescue as a “well-coordinated and cautious effort”. 

The SPCA Monterey County spokesman said the horse and pony were brought to the charity for care but they were transported to Steinbeck County Equine Clinic for treatment for dehydration and hypothermia. In an update on 29 January the charity reported the horse and pony are “recovering”.

Article continued below…

Rider trapped in ditch under 18hh gelding thanks rescuers

“I wasn’t crushed but I still had my legs on either side of Nasa and they were pinned”

Mare and gelding freed from sticky situations thanks to firefighters

Animal rescue specialists attended the separate incidents on 14 and 19 July

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“They are both eating and drinking and their shivering has subsided. Our good friends at Steinbeck County Equine Clinic are keeping a close eye on their recovery from this trauma,” said the spokesman.

“We thank all the first responders who performed this amazing rescue. We also thank the kind neighbours who responded with shovels and other tools to help.”

In an update today (1 February) the charity said the mare was released yesterday and it is hoped the pony will be released soon. 

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A rider who became trapped under her 18hh gelding when he fell into a ditch has praised the fire crew that came to his rescue, as the lucky gelding walked away “without a scratch”.

Devon-based yard owner Kate Shobrook was riding up her driveway in Yelverton when her homebred five-year-old warmblood Nasa tripped and fell.

“Unknown to me there was a ditch that had become overgrown,” she told H&H. “He’s a big horse, gravity took over and we ended up upside down in it. It all happened so quickly.

“I wasn’t crushed but I still had my legs on either side of Nasa and they were pinned. Luckily as I was so close to home, my husband Jamie and some other liveries came to help. Jamie managed to drag me out to safety and my only concern was Nasa.”

Kate said the emergency services and her vet Paul Hallum from Calweton Vets were called and arrived quickly at the scene.

“Nasa tried wriggling to free himself but he was still upside down and was never going to get himself out,“ she said.

“Many of the fire crew are retained firefighters from the local area and know some of the farmers so someone came with a telehandler. Paul was there when Nasa was born five years ago and knows him well so it was nice that he was on duty, he gave Nasa some sedation, and a plan was made about how to free him.”

The fire services placed strops around Nasa’s legs and the gelding was winched to safety.

“It was a real team effort,” said Kate. “The strops were taken off and Nasa was back on his feet. He didn’t have a scratch on him, within two hours he was back in his stable eating a haynet like nothing had happened.

“I really can’t thank Paul and the fire services enough. Heaven forbid you don’t ever need them, but it’s so nice to know they’re there; their training is so diverse. They aren’t horsey and it’s not every day you turn up to see a horse upside down in a ditch but they are so calm and didn’t panic.”

Continued below…

Mare and gelding freed from sticky situations thanks to firefighters

Animal rescue specialists attended the separate incidents on 14 and 19 July

‘I thought that was it’: owner praises fire service who saved her elderly gelding

‘I was crying and panicking but the firemen were so calm. They knew exactly what they needed to do and

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Nasa was not injured in the incident, but Kate was taken to hospital and treated for a broken ankle which she believes occurred when she was pulled out from under Nasa.

“I hope to be back on in six weeks and the plan is to event Nasa,” she said. “I just hope he makes a better attempt at a ditch than this in the future!”

A spokesman for Yelverton Fire Station, where fire crew attended from alongside a rescue team from Camels Head, said: “Our thanks to the local farmers that regularly turn out with their telehandlers to assist at incidents like this, [it is] very community spirited of them.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A “terrified” colt who became stuck in a “deep muddy bog” up to his stomach has been rescued by firefighters and the RSPCA.

The charity was made aware of a group of ponies being kept close to the A40 at Denham, Buckinghamshire, after members of the public raised concerns for their welfare. On visiting the ponies last week one was discovered stuck in the bog, with dangerous barbed wire nearby.

An RSPCA spokesman said inspector Becky Timberlake knew she would have to act fast to save the “terrified” colt, but would need help from the fire service to free him.

“We’ve been checking on this group for a while to make sure they’re doing okay as we have yet to get to the bottom of who owns them,” she said.

“Unfortunately during our checks we found this lovely young colt completely stuck between a barbed wire fence and a drainage ditch. He was completely bogged down and there was no way he could have got out on his own. He must have been so anxious to be away from his herd.”

Becky called for support from the charity’s equine welfare operations manager Claudia Corner, who attended to assess the situation.

“We knew we’d need the help of the fire service to move him – even a young pony still weighs a huge amount and if a horse panics they can be really dangerous to themselves and others,” said Becky.

“Luckily the London Fire Brigade were able to spare some time to help us to gently guide the colt through the mud and up the bank to safety. We couldn’t have done it without them and are always so grateful for their support in rescuing animals whenever they can.”

Article continued below…

Owner thanks rescuers of mare found stuck in six-foot ditch

‘I’m so grateful to the fire crew, I’ve never seen them do anything like that – they were really impressive

Mare and gelding freed from sticky situations thanks to firefighters

Animal rescue specialists attended the separate incidents on 14 and 19 July

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The spokesman said “thankfully” the colt was not injured, but he was in poor condition.

“A vet visited to check him over and they certified he was likely to suffer if he wasn’t helped further, so after police placed him into RSPCA care, he was transported to a specialist boarding stables,” he said.

Becky added the colt, nicknamed Teddy, is “recovering well and enjoying plenty of TLC”.

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The owner of a mare who became stuck in a six-foot deep ditch said she does not know how she would have got out had it not been for the help of the fire brigade and a local farmer.

Arron Stevenson, who runs a livery yard and rehabilitation centre, received a call from her friend Lyn on Monday morning (19 October) to say her six-year-old homebred mare Poppy was missing from her field in Droitchwich, Worcestershire.

“Poppy went to Lyn’s yard on Sunday to keep her horse company and on Monday at 6.30am Poppy wasn’t in the field,” Arron told H&H.

“I drove to Lyn’s and we searched all the hedgelines, and her husband James discovered Poppy at the other side of a hedge in a ditch. We don’t know how it happened, she is the last horse you would think would try to jump out of a field.”

Poppy was stuck in mud, unable to free herself from the ditch.

“I just thought ‘how are we going to get her out?’ It was worrying but I’m quite good in difficult situations and have dealt with all sorts running a yard,” said Arron.

“We phoned the fire brigade and MBG Vets came to sedate Poppy. She was exhausted and showing signs of hypothermia so we don’t know how long she had been in there.”

Arron said the fire brigade arrived within half an hour and assessed the situation before calling the animal specialist unit from Bromyard fire station.

“The farmer from across the road, Guy Cartridge, and his daughter Charlotte came to help with their manitou telehandler and the fire brigade put straps around Poppy to winch her out. I had images of her having a broken leg but thankfully she was ok.”

Arron said Poppy was on her feet “straight away” and was checked by the vet before she was taken home to Arron’s yard.

“The vet was back yesterday (20 October) to check Poppy again and she’s completely unfazed by what happened. She’s such a lovely mare and just four weeks ago we weaned her first foal,” she said.

“I’m so grateful to the fire crew, I’ve never seen them do anything like that – they were really impressive and so lovely. I can’t thank them enough, we wouldn’t have got her out without them. I’m also so thankful to Lyn, James and Guy and Charlotte – despite everything that’s going on with Covid-19 I had plenty of people willing to offer help.”

Article continued below…

Horse reunited with owner after helicopter rescue from 60ft ravine

A horse has been safely reunited with her owner after falling 60ft down a ravine, leading to a major rescue

‘I thought that was it’: owner praises fire service who saved her elderly gelding

‘I was crying and panicking but the firemen were so calm. They knew exactly what they needed to do and

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A spokesman for Hereford & Worcestershire Fire Services told H&H two crews attended, from Kidderminster Wyre Forest and Bromyard stations.

“She had escaped overnight and made an attempt to get back which resulted in her getting in a bit of a pickle. We were able to cut the fence to get to her and once she had been sedated by the vet, we were able to get strops on and with the use of a telehandler from a local farmer she was lifted to safety,” said a spokesman for Bromyard station.

“Although very cold and muddy, there were no injuries and this lucky little mare walked away none the worse for her ordeal.”

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Two ponies who had been found straying and put into a field had to be rescued again — after they fell into a garden pond.

The RSPCA was contacted after a member of the public spotted them stranded in water in a garden on Great Moor Road, Pattingham, on Sunday (9 August).

RSPCA inspector Vicki Taylor, who attended the incident, said the ponies had been found straying in Pattingham the evening before and police were made aware.

“Members of the public managed to get headcollars on the ponies and called a vet to see to the filly’s injured leg. They were moved into a secure field while enquiries were made as to where they’d come from,” she said.

“Unfortunately they managed to escape and fell into a pond nearby.”

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended and called the RSPCA. A vet was also in attendance and transport was arranged to collect the ponies.

“The fire crew managed to get the ponies out using strops. Thankfully they weren’t badly injured,” said Vicki.

“The vet checked them over and we moved them to boarding for the night. They were exhausted and relieved to be somewhere safe and comfy and were fast asleep in no time at all.”

The ponies are now being cared for by staff at the charity’s Gonsal Farm Animal Centre in Shropshire.

“If they’ve escaped from their home we’d love to hear from their owners to reunite them,” added Vicki.

Article continued below…

‘I thought that was it’: owner praises fire service who saved her elderly gelding

‘I was crying and panicking but the firemen were so calm. They knew exactly what they needed to do and

‘I nursed him overnight and I was in love’: vet nurse adopts abandoned foal she helped save

‘I nursed him overnight and I was in love, I knew I had to give him a home’

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A spokesman for the RSPCA said the charity received reports of more than 21,000 incidents involving horses last year.

“Since lockdown we’ve received thousands of reports about horses but fear much worse is to come if, as expected, the Covid-19 crisis spars a UK and global recession.”

Anyone who recognises the ponies should call the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Firefighters have come to the aid of a mare and gelding who became stuck in separate incidents.

On Sunday (19 July) a 10-year-old 16hh gelding fell through a footbridge at Church Lane, Sherrington, Bucks.

Crew and animal rescue specialists from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS), Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident.

“The horse fell through a footbridge and got stuck. Thankfully with some great teamwork our crews and animal rescue specialists were able to release him without any harm,” a spokesman for HFRS said.

A vet also attended the scene and the gelding was freed by 12.18pm. The rider was uninjured.

“The horse did not suffer any major injuries, apart from a few minor cuts,” said the spokesman.

On 14 July the animal specialist team from HFRS had rescued a 13-year-old 16hh mare called Romie, who had become stuck in a muddy ditch in Sway, in the New Forest.

Article continued below…

‘I thought that was it’: owner praises fire service who saved her elderly gelding

‘I was crying and panicking but the firemen were so calm. They knew exactly what they needed to do and

‘He must have about 10 lives’: firefighters help save horse blown over in storm

Scottish firefighters helped to save the life of a horse who was blown over in Storm Dennis in a two-hour

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A vet from the Barn Equine Surgery attended the scene and Romie was lifted to safety by fire crew using a manitou forklift.

The spokesman said the mare was unharmed.

In this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday, 23 July, don’t miss our “Can’t wait for Tokyo” special including a look back at the dressage success of London 2012, plus how the postponed Games could be an advantage for some horses and riders. We also talk to Derby-winning jockey Emmet McNamara in H&H interview and in this week’s “Vet clinic” we explore the pros and cons of genetic technology. Campaigner Reece McCook tells us about his role working to end racism in equestrianism and check out our hunting content, we go behind the scenes at the kennels of two very different packs of hounds. Enjoy our nostalgic long-read feature “Legends of the sport” as we reflect on how Graham Fletcher made his name in showjumping and much more.

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An owner who thought she was going to lose her elderly gelding after he became stuck in a ditch has thanked the fire crews who came to his rescue.

Katie Turner of Essex, received a call from her friend on 9 June to say her 29-year-old 17hh gelding Murphy had become stuck at the livery yard he is kept at.

“The yard owner was poo-picking and said one minute Murphy was there and the next he was in the ditch,” Katie told H&H.

“We don’t know exactly what happened; he had been grazing near a walkway between the individual turnout pens so we’re not sure whether he went into the ditch looking for some grass but he became stuck where it gets deeper in the middle and he couldn’t get himself out.”

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called while Katie made her way to the yard.

“It was a bit touch and go. When I got there and saw Murphy in the ditch I thought that was it and I was going to lose him because, especially because he’s an older horse.”

“My vet attended and the fire crew put straps round Murphy and he was pulled out on a big board. He was quite wobbly getting up but somehow he only had a cut knee.”

‘I thought it would be a miracle if she got out alive’: stuck mare rescued from muck heap

The owner has praised the fire service and her vet for their efforts in the rescue

Fire service charges for large animal rescue could put horses and owners at risk *H&H Plus*

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Katie said Murphy, who is semi-retired and enjoys hacking, was a bit stiff following the incident but has since made a full recovery. She has thanked the crews from Colchester, Chelsmford and Great Baddow who saved Murphy.

“I was crying and panicking at the time but the firemen were so calm. I’m so grateful to them, they knew exactly what they needed to do and made it look so easy. Everything was so efficient; I got the call at 8.15am and he was out by 9.40am,” she said.

“One of the crew said these types of things happen more than you think. We are so lucky having them. I messaged them later to thank them properly for what they did, we are so lucky to have them.”

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A distressed horse surprised rescuers when it walked away without serious injury after two of its legs became trapped in a cattle grid.

The horse escaped from a property in Abertillery, South Wales, on 13 December, and on attempting to cross a cattle grid both his left legs slipped through the bars.

RSPCA animal collection officer Stephanie Davidson, who was called to the scene by a member of the public, said: “This poor horse was understandably in distress as he was unable to move or free himself from the cattle grid.

“The owner was notified and a vet attended along with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. The horse must have tried to walk over it and unfortunately slipped in.”

Stephanie said the expert fire service team used specialist equipment to cut the horse free.

“He had been through quite an ordeal, but was ok after he was released,” she said.

“He was checked over by a vet and there were no breaks. I was so relieved but surprised he got up and walked off.”

A spokesman for RSPCA Cymru said the horse suffered some “superficial” wounds but was given a “clean bill of health” by the vet. He added that the charity often works with the fire service on animal rescues where they can provide specialist equipment.

“We are always exceptionally grateful for the support of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in helping rescue equines – and this was a great outcome. By working collaboratively with the fire and rescue service, we can do more to help keep animals safe,” said Stephanie.

Article continued below… 

Firefighters learn how to decontaminate horses in innovative training

The situation was complicated when one horse did not want to go into the shower...

Owner praises ‘incredible’ fire service for trying to save her horse

‘We knew we weren’t going to get him up on our own and would need the fire brigade’

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“RSPCA Cymru continues to urge owners to check their animals, ideally twice each day, to help ensure they are safe and out of harm’s way. By checking fences, gates and perimeters of paddocks, owners can help prevent their horses straying into areas of danger.”

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service station manager Simon Brown said: “We used specialist cutting and spreading equipment to free the horse, who was thankfully unharmed. We would like to thank the farm owner and everyone involved for assisting with the rescue.”

The RSPCA spokesman urged anyone who sees a horse in distress to call the 24-hour helpline on 0300 1234 999.

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A horse who got stuck in a five foot-deep ditch has been rescued thanks to an app that enabled his owner to give the fire services their exact location.

Steph Lynch, from Ovingham near Newcastle, was riding her 15.2hh part-bred Connemara Merlyn on grass tracks near his livery yard when he lost his footing on 15 October.

“I was riding along the hedge line; underneath is a ditch but it wasn’t very visible where the hedge has grown over it. I’m not sure if Merlyn shied at something or if the ground gave way but his back foot went first, he stepped towards the hedge and the rest of him followed,” Steph told H&H.

“Merlyn was half in, half out of the ditch. I got myself off and out of the way. He tried so hard to get himself out but the ditch was too deep, it was never going to happen.”

Steph contacted her vet at Scott Mitchell Associates, and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. Using the ‘what3words’ app, which provides three unique words for every three square metres of land to identify precise locations, the emergency services were able to pinpoint where she was.

“I was trying not to panic but I knew we needed some major assistance,” she said. “I was struggling to explain to the operator where I was because we were in the middle of about six fields.

“Then I remembered I had the app; I opened it and gave the three words it showed and the operator knew exactly where I was and which fire brigades to send. I phoned my friend Ginny Rutherford, a veterinary nurse and livery, who came and waited with me while we waited for the rescue services.”

Crews from Hexam, Prudhoe and Allendale fire stations arrived 15 minutes later followed by the vet who sedated Merlyn.

“It was agreed we needed to get ropes around Merlyn for him to be lifted out but the ditch was too tight and the hedge was almost enclosing him. The landowners, the Bramwells of Horsely, came and helped pull the hedges back with machinery while the fire crews dug the ditch and got the straps round him.

“I kept thinking how grateful I was for everyone’s help – they tried so hard and were so determined the whole time. There was never any option of failure, even when something wasn’t working someone would say ‘we’ll try it this way’. The crews were brilliant and kept checking how I was.”

Steph, who competed Merlyn in the BE90 class at the Mitsubishi Motors Cup at Badminton this year and is qualified for the 2020 Science Supplements Cup, said she was uninjured except for some “aches and pains”. Merlyn is expected to make a full recovery.

“We walked him back to the yard and he was happy in himself, but he looked like he had been in a boxing match. He had been on his side for so long his right eye was cut and swollen shut and he had a haematoma on his side – but it could have been a lot worse,” she said.

“The vet was initially concerned about his eye, but it is now fully open and the vet is confident he is going to be fine. His muscles are stiff and sore so he will get all the time he needs to fully recover.”

Article continued below…

Firefighters called to rescue foal with her head stuck in a wheelbarrow

The foal was unhurt and has since tried to climb into the barrow again

Trapped horse rescued from ditch after being spooked by lorry

Bromyard station said it had put it’s recent training “into action for real” when it attended the trapped gelding.

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Steph has urged others to download the app.

“My boyfriend told me about it while we were hiking in the summer and I downloaded it after I saw a rider post about a similar incident. I really think it’s worth having – not just for riders, but dog walkers, cyclists or anyone that is outdoors. It takes 30 seconds to download and then you have it. I never thought I’d need it, but it’s a huge relief I had it.”

A spokesman for Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service told H&H: “We recommend that everyone downloads the app. We use it in our fire control room; it helps pinpoint where people are if there is an incident, particularly in rural areas.”

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A horse who became wedged in a jockey door after climbing over a breast bar in a horsebox has been rescued by the fire service.

Crews from Dorset & Wiltshire and Hampshire fire and rescue services attended the incident in Wilsford, Wiltshire on Monday afternoon (10 June).

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service animal rescue technical advisor Kev Baker, who arrived at the scene after the horse had been sedated by a vet, told H&H the 16hh gelding had moved his entire body into the jockey compartment after getting his legs over the breast bar of the rear-facing horsebox.

“The owner opened the jockey door because the horse was struggling to breathe. It gave him an airway, but equally gave him an exit so when the door was opened, you had a horse trying to squeeze out of a door designed for a human,” said Mr Baker.

“When I arrived, two-thirds of his body was out of the door so he was in a very good position for us to get him out without any further injury.”

Mr Baker said the crews used a “forward assist” technique using straps which loop around the horse’s legs and chest to provide support and allow them to pull him out of the horsebox.

“The tyres were let down on the vehicle to get it lowered to the ground and we removed him. We got him straight out to a place of recovery and after an hour and a half the sedation wore off and he was on his feet,” he said.

“He’d got out of there without damaging the vehicle and with very little damage to himself – it’s absolutely incredible. He was very lucky. He had a few bruises and lacerations where he had gone over the breast bar but other than that he was absolutely fine.”

Article continued below…

Horses rescued from horsebox overturned on top of a car

The Alliance Road Policing Teams said on Twitter the incident was a ‘truly multi-agency operation’ and thanked the public for

Trapped horse rescued from ditch after being spooked by lorry

Bromyard station said it had put it’s recent training “into action for real” when it attended the trapped gelding.

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Mr Baker praised the assistance of the vet who attended.

“The vet did a phenomenal job on managing the sedation which was great and allowed us to get in there and get the job done without anybody being at risk,” he said.

“We wouldn’t be able to do these rescues without the help of vets. It’s a team effort and for us to work with good vets and them to have an understanding of what we’re trying and for us to have an understanding of what they are trying to achieve is so valuable. Our ultimate aim is to keep people safe and the welfare of an animal is centre to a rescue.”

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Two horses have been rescued from an overturned horsebox involved in a “difficult and challenging” recovery operation following a collision with a car.

Emergency services including Devon & Cornwall Police, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Highways England, paramedics and a vet attended the accident at the A39 between Barnstaple and Bideford on Tuesday (11 June) at 9.25am.

A spokesman for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said on arrival crews found the Iveco horsebox lying on its side while the car was trapped underneath.

The road was closed and three fire engines attended along with a heavy rescue vehicle, and a specialist rescue team from Barnstaple fire station.

A vet was on hand while the fire crew stabilised the horsebox and freed the horses using specialist animal rescue equipment.

The Alliance Road Policing Teams said on Twitter the incident was a “truly multi-agency operation” and thanked the public for their patience during the “difficult and challenging recovery operation”.

Article continued below…

Pony thrown clear from trailer in road accident goes on to qualify for Hickstead

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A spokesman for Devon & Cornwall Police said: “The female driver of the car and male passenger, a 13-year-old boy, have both been taken to North Devon District hospital. Injuries are not believed serious.”

The horses were freed by the fire crews at 2.11pm and transported from the scene under the supervision of the vet.

“Both horses were checked over by a vet and were fine,” said the police spokesman.

In this week’s magazine don’t miss our Hickstead preview in which we meet the 2018 Derby hero Billy Buckingham and more. We also talk to top riders who went from college to success in the saddle, and in this week’s Vet clinic we look at the pros and cons of lungeing. Read reports from across the disciplines, including showing and eventing action, polo from Beaufort and Cowdray Park, plus the Ardingly Hound Show and much more.

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A fire service has put its recent large animal training into action when it freed a horse who was “wedged” in a ditch.

The gelding was being ridden along the A465 near Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, on the morning of 20 May when he was spooked by a passing lorry which caused him to lose his footing and become trapped in the ditch.

A spokesman for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the rider was able to raise the alarm and the road was closed while a large animal rescue team from Bromyard fire station and a crew from Hereford fire station attended the scene. A vet also attended and sedated the gelding.

“Using specialist equipment and with the assistance of a local farmer with a telehandler, we were successfully able to remove the sedated horse from the ditch,” said Adrian Thompson, station commander.

Crews from Bromyard fire station had recently carried out large animal rescue training on 16 May, practising on a model horse who had been “trapped” on a metal gate.

Article continued below…

‘This service needs saving’: owner of mare saved by fire service urges others to sign petition

‘We’re busy and sometimes think ‘not another petition’ but you just never know when you might need their help’

Exhausted horse freed from belly-deep mud in ‘rare and complex’ rescue

If riders get into difficulty or see someone in difficulty they should dial 999 and ask for the coastguard

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In a statement, Bromyard station said it had put it’s recent training “into action for real” when it attended the trapped gelding.

“We’re glad to be able to provide large animal rescue as part of our normal service at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and love these happy outcomes,” said a spokesman for the station.

“Horses are by nature a flight animal and can move sideways at remarkable speed when startled. Please give them the width of a car when passing and drop your speed to 15mph.”

The gelding has since made a full recovery.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday. In this week’ s magazine out on Thursday 30 may don’t miss our summer horse care special. 

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The owner of a mare who was saved by a fire and rescue service when she was unable to get to her feet has urged others to sign a petition to prevent cuts to the service.

Helen Hanly from Windlesham, Surrey, arrived at her friend Kirsty Hewitt’s yard to find her 25-year-old Arab mare Mikarlla lying down in the field on Tuesday morning (23 April).

Helen told H&H: “I’ve owned Mikarlla since she was seven and in all that time I’ve never seen her lie down – I was shocked. I called over to her and she sat up, but when I got closer she couldn’t get up and I thought ‘something’s not right’.

“I don’t know if she had tried to roll and got stuck in the long grass but she’d been slipping in the dew and dug a hole for herself. She is arthritic in one leg and she must have been down for some time as the skin had been scraped off her back legs.”

Helen and the yard owners were unable to get Mikarlla to her feet so called Scott Dunn’s Equine Clinic vets and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

“Mikarlla is a feisty mare and a former endurance horse with lots of stamina, but she was exhausted. At one point she flopped back down with her head in my lap, she looked so vulnerable,” said Helen.

“The fire service were brilliant and said they would send a special unit from Painshill fire station and crews from Camberley and Esher. The vet, Amy McCarthy, arrived to sedate Mikarlla and the fire brigade worked their magic and lifted her using a hoist.

“I was told by the fire service if we had phoned 15 minutes later they wouldn’t have been able to come because of cuts they are making to the fire services’ core hours.”

Helen said the fire service saved Mikarlla’s life.

“She wouldn’t be here without them. They were marvellous – so professional and calm. They made a point of explaining everything they doing and really prepared us. The whole thing was seamless,” she said.

“When they got her up everyone was clapping – it was really emotional. You could see it meant a lot to the crew, it was a really lovely outcome.”

Helen wants others to show support for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, which is going through a consultation period and could have to make cuts and introduce animal rescue charges as part of the Making Surrey Safer Plan 2020-2023 that aims to set out how the fire service responds to incidents and uses resources. A petition has been started to scrap plans to leave seven major fire appliances un-crewed at night.

“Mikarlla is a bit battered and bruises but she is walking about,” said Helen. “It was a really lovely outcome but it really struck me what if the fire service hadn’t been there – my horse could have been gone.

“I want everyone to be aware that this fire service needs promoting and saving. The equine community is a big community; we’re busy and sometimes think ‘not another petition’ but you just never know when you might need their help. It’s not just equestrians, many of us are drivers – there could be an accident on the motorway which needs specialist lifting equipment. The thought of having less of this service in any shape or form – you might not think you need it until something happens.”

Click here to view the petition

Continues below…

Fire service considers charging for equine rescue: have your say

Owners have until 26 May to express their views

Owner praises ‘incredible’ fire service for trying to save her horse

‘We knew we weren’t going to get him up on our own and would need the fire brigade’

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A spokesman for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service told H&H: “It’s important to recognise we’ve put forward a wide-ranging improvement plan for a service that the inspectorate insists we improve. We are confident our proposals will save lives. What protects people is stopping fires before they start. Fire prevention work saves lives, especially older and disabled people, and that’s why we’re proposing to carry out four times as many fire prevention visits each year.

“Our proposals include substantial investment in training crews, new fire engines and new technology which will speed up response times when the service is busiest.

“The fire and rescue service maintains a response to animal rescue incidents both day and night, throughout the year, and this is supported by both specially trained personnel, specialist assets and partners where required.”

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An exhausted horse who became stuck in belly-deep mud on a beach was freed in an “extremely rare and complex” rescue.

Teams from the HM Coastguard Flint and Wirral, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and Hoylake Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) attended Leasowe Bay, Wirral on 13 April after reports two horses had become stuck.

A spokesman for Hoylake RNLI, which deployed a hovercraft, said: “The young riders had been assisted to safety by the Coastguard and were under the care of the North West Ambulance Service and their parents.

“One horse had already been freed and led to safety, but the other was stuck up to its belly in very thick mud.”

The rescue teams began digging to free the horse’s legs but the mud proved too thick for the equipment.

“After some further digging and gentle encouragement from the emergency services the horse managed to free itself but became stuck again,” said the spokesman.

“The RNLI volunteers and the fire service deployed their mud boards and mats to provide the horse with some firmer footing. The horse was freed again and managed to climb on to the boards with some assistance.”

A vet sedated the horse to allow the emergency services to move it to shore safely.

“The horse was guided along the mud boards before eventually reaching firmer ground. Once ashore, the horse was led into a horsebox to receive further assistance and treatment,” said the spokesman.

Volunteer hovercraft crew member Ian Farrall said: “Considering the ordeal the horse had been through its behaviour was exceptional in what was clearly a distressing situation. The emergency service teams worked really well together, pooling their resources and experience to ensure a good outcome in very difficult circumstances.

“Walking and riding is a safe activity most of the time but it is important to be aware of the risks. The sand and mud around the Wirral coast can be dangerous and coastal conditions can change over time. We would advise horse riders and walkers to check local safety notices and to always carry a means of calling for help.”

Safety warning after exhausted horse freed from belly-deep mud in major rescue mission

‘With an incoming tide this could have ended in a different way’

Owner praises ‘incredible’ fire service for trying to save her horse

‘We knew we weren’t going to get him up on our own and would need the fire brigade’

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A spokesman for HM Coastguard Wirral said both horses are expected to make a full recovery.

“This was an extremely rare and complex rescue and all agencies pulled together utilising a range of skills, knowledge and equipment from each agency, all of which contributed to the successful rescue and happy outcome,” said the spokesman.

If riders get into difficulty or see someone in difficulty they should dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

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A mother who rescued her son, his pony and her dog from a burning horsebox on a dual carriageway said she is “thanking her lucky stars” they all got out safely.

Verity Perry was driving her 11-year-old son Austyn and his pony Pepi to a Pony Club rally at Chyverton Park equestrian center yesterday (10 April) when she realised something was wrong.

“I noticed something smelt weird,” she told H&H.

“My lorry’s restricted to 56mph but the car in front was going more slowly than me so I wondered if it was them – then smoke started coming in.”

Verity kept driving as there was nowhere to pull over, while smoke filled the cab.

“I made Austyn get in the back with the dog as it was so smoky in the front, but the scary thing is, I know how fast lorries can go up,” she said.

“I was desperately trying to get to somewhere where I could pull over, then there was a big grass verge. I went on to it at about 15 to 20mph, which in a lorry is terrifying.”

Austyn jumped out of the groom’s door with the dog, Flappers, while Verity ran to the back to let Pepi out, and call 999. Austyn then held pony and dog on the grass while Verity tried to save some of their kit.

“Luckily, it was the best place to break down if you had to do it as I had literally just passed the fire station,” she said. “The first fire engine was there within five minutes.

“What shocked me was that no one stopped to help. They could see thick black smoke pouring out of the lorry, and a boy with a pony and a dog on the side of the road, but no one stopped.”

Verity praised the firefighters and police, who also arrived on the scene.

“I was a bit disappointed in people but the emergency services got there so fast, it almost didn’t matter,” she said. “The dog is a rescue who we haven’t had long; he was terrified but a lovely sergeant looked after him. The police went above and beyond.”

Police closed the road and Verity was able to lead Pepi to a yard nearby, while Austyn rode his bike and a police officer walked the dog.

The lorry was recovered and Verity believes it may be salvageable, as the fire was electrical, and seems only to have caused minor damage.

“I bought it from my best friend, who died in 2012, so I’m so sentimental about it,” she said. “The lorry is the last thing I’ve got of her.

“It was shocking that it happened; everything is done on this lorry. I take it to the garage for anything and must spend £2,000 a year to make sure it’s ok. What’s odd is that it usually goes into limp mode when a sensor failed but it carried on driving beautifully when it was on fire.

“We’re very lucky, in so many ways. I’m so proud of Austyn; he was very brave, and did exactly as he was told, and if there’s any horse in the world you’d want to be the one stuck on a main road with, it would be this one; he’s so good and he was just delighted there was grass!”

Verity has since been overwhelmed by supportive messages and offers to lend trailers and lorries so she and Austyn can continue to travel to events.

Continues below…

‘It went up in a fireball’: Stallion saved from burning box on A1

'There we were, standing on the A1, with articulated lorries doing emergency stops, and the wagon just went up'

Dressage to music display features pony — and motorbike

‘He’s never done a dressage test on a horse, let alone a motorbike!’

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“My faith in humanity was lost when no one stopped for us but it’s been restored since, by the lovely emergency services, and all the messages and help.

“I’m just glad we all got out ok; I’m thanking my lucky stars.”

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The owner of a horse who was put down after he collapsed from grass sickness wants others to support the “incredible” fire and rescue service who tried to save him.

Dayna Potter and her family found homebred 16hh four-year-old gelding Mouse down in the stable at their farm on Sunday evening (31 March).

Dayna told H&H: “Mouse had been losing weight which was really unlike him. He went downhill last Thursday (28 March) and the vet diagnosed grass sickness.

“On Sunday he had a good day and looked on the up. We were checking him every two hours but when we went to check him at 8pm he’d gone down. He kept trying to get up, it was like he knew he had to, but he couldn’t – it was heartbreaking.

“He got himself stuck in the stable but we managed to get him turned round with ratchet straps round his legs, then he got himself out of the stable.”

Dayna contacted her vet and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.

“We knew we weren’t going to get him up on our own and would need the fire brigade,” said Dayna. “We hoped his legs had just gone numb from being down for so long and he would be ok once he was up.

“The local team from Farnham fire station arrived first at 11.30pm and then crew from Painhill arrived with the crane to pick him up. The vet sedated him and the fire brigade got him back up on his feet.”

Dayna said the fire crew waited with Mouse to make sure he was ok.

“Everyone was cheering that we had got him up and he seemed fine. They left him in the straps for a while to regain himself and once he seemed to be holding himself up ok one of the crew walked him round,” she said.

“The vet had checked him over and he had an appetite and was eating carrots. I went home but my mum phoned to say he had gone down again so I rushed back to the farm and we decided we had to call it a day and he was put to sleep.”

Dayna wants others to support Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, which is going through a consultation period, and may have to introduce charges for large animal rescue in the future as part of the Making Surrey Safer Plan 2020-2023.

“I could tell from the minute the crew arrived they were going to put their heart and soul into saving Mouse – they were so invested. They were the only ones who could keep us calm and told us not to worry, they were so positive and you could really see the crew cared about Mouse,” said Dayna.

“I saw the H&H story a few weeks ago about the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service consultation and that we might have to pay for animal rescue and I want to show my thanks and appreciation to the fire service by raising awareness of the incredible job they do.”

Fire service considers charging for equine rescue: have your say

Owners have until 26 May to express their views

Owner of cob found neck-deep in freezing stream praises rescuers

The animal technical rescue unit winched Logan to safety

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Owners have until 26 May to share their views on the consultation by completing an online survey.

“I don’t want sympathy, but if any positive can come out of this horrendous situation I want the fire service animal rescue unit to be supported,” said Dayna.

“If the service becomes chargeable it could put people off calling them out. I don’t want anyone to be in the situation I was in and not call the fire brigade because they either can’t afford it or one day it’s not there.”

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Firefighters came to the aid of a frightened horse who got into difficulty when he fell into a swimming pool and became entangled in the cover.

A crew from Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service came to the rescue of the horse, who had escaped from his field, on 20 March and fallen into the pool of a nearby property in May Hill, in the Forest of Dean area in Gloucestershire. A vet was also at the scene.

The fire crew was able to successfully free the horse from the swimming pool cover, and using a harness, firefighters managed to lift the horse to safety, and it was reunited with its owner.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service station manager Jo Singh said: “A horse had roamed from a field on May Hill and fallen into the swimming pool of a nearby property.

“When we arrived we found the horse had become entangled by the pool cover which had been ripped when the horse fell in.

Fire service considers charging for equine rescue: have your say

Owners have until 26 May to express their views

Day-old foal has to be winched to safety from sinkhole

’She didn’t have a mark on her — I think because it was dark in the hole, she had just

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“Our priority was to reassure the frightened horse, release it from the pool cover, and attach a harness.”

The horse was sedated by the vet and was “safely and successfully” rescued by the crew while its owner was tracked down.

“The police helped us to reunite the horse with the owner,” said Ms Singh.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday. the current edition (21 March) is our eventing special, including an interview with British event rider Gemma Tattersall, how to get the best out of your cross-country schooling and much more. In this week’s vet clinic, we explore why rest days are vital for horses, plus we speak to top showjumper William Whitaker, and check out our full 12-page report from the Cheltenham Festival, including expert analysis, comments and pictures.

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Owners have the opportunity to express their views following announcement that a fire and rescue service could introduce charges for large animal rescue.

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) is consulting as part of the Making Surrey Safe Plan 2020-2023 which aims to set out how the fire service responds to incidents and uses resources.

On behalf of the service, a spokesman for Surrey County Council said: “We are sometimes called to incidents that are not emergencies, such as freeing trapped animals and persistent false automatic re alarms. The introduction of the Localism Act 2011 increased the scope for recovering costs for emergencies we respond to that turn out to be non-emergencies.

“We may charge for some services such as persistent false alarms and animal rescues and re-invest this in SFRS. We will balance our statutory obligations to ensure we act ethically and maintain our values and standards.”

Surrey County Council was unable to provide any further information on the proposed charges but the spokesman said the council will look at views raised during the consultation “before any final decisions are taken”.

Steve Owen-Hughes, acting chief fire officer for SFRS, said: “Our plan is all about bringing firefighters closer to the communities we serve to help prevent emergencies and keep people safe, especially the most vulnerable in our society.

“We really want to hear your views on our proposals and would encourage you to take part in our consultation.”

Owner of cob found neck-deep in freezing stream praises rescuers

The animal technical rescue unit winched Logan to safety

Two-hour rescue of horse trapped under huge fallen tree

‘She was phenomenally unlikely to survive under a weight of tree like that’

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Jim Green, director of the Britain Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association, told H&H: “Surrey aren’t saying they aren’t going to go to animal rescues – they are looking at how they might get something back for the outlay they have in keeping that specialist team active. This is a good opportunity for people to reply to the consultation and to really have their say.”

Owners have until 26 May to express their views by completing an online survey.

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The owner of a cob who was found neck-deep in a stream has praised the emergency services who came to the rescue.

Karen Guile of Upper Beeding, West Sussex, received a phone call on Saturday morning (19 January) to say her nine-year-old 15hh gelding Logan was up to his neck in water.

Karen told H&H: “There’s a footpath on the opposite side of the bank and a local walker had spotted Logan and notified one of the houses nearby who phoned me.

“My husband and a friend and I tried to get Logan out ourselves but the bank was too slippery and he just couldn’t do it and kept slipping.”

“The animal rescue team were fantastic – there was five guys in total and they got ready to winch him out while another rescue unit with a crane was on its way to lift him but luckily they managed without it. The vet attended and sedated him and straps were put all round him so he could be winched out. The vet checked him over and we put four rugs on him and did some thatching with hay like the old fashioned way to get him warm. We think he’d been in for nearly four hours but once we got him warmed up he was absolutely fine.”

Karen said she is very grateful to the fire services.

“I think it’s amazing what they do. I don’t know what would have happened without them – they’re so well trained and know how to deal with animals,” she said.

‘You could just see her ears’: filthy pony pulled to safety from muddy ditch

The pony was spotted by ‘total chance’ by a member of the public

Firefighters rescue mare stuck ‘up to her hindquarters’ in a ditch

The mare was rescued by firefighters after she sunk up to her hindquarters

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“To put themselves in that position in the water with him – it doesn’t matter how experienced you are, you’re still putting yourself at risk going in the water. We would have been really stuck without them.”

A spokesman for West Sussex Fire & Rescue said: “We were called to a report of a horse trapped in a stream at 10.39am. A winching system and animal rescue equipment was used to rescue the horse, which was then handed into the care of the owner and the vet. We left at 2.15pm.”

H&H recommends that readers call the fire service immediately if they find horses stuck and await their expertise, rather than trying to rescue them themselves due to the potential danger.

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A pony had a lucky escape after she was found “by total chance” stuck neck-deep in a muddy ditch.

The 11hh grey mare was spotted by a member of the public in a field off Marshfoot Road, Grays in Essex, on 19 January.

The RSPCA and Essex Fire & Rescue Service launched a rescue mission to free the pony, who was covered from head to toe in mud.

RSPCA Inspector Caroline Richardson said it is “amazing” that she was found.

“You could just see her ears, which were the only part of her still grey,” she said.

“It’s total chance that she was found and she was very lucky to have been spotted.

“She was freezing cold, shivering and clearly exhausted. We believe she may have been stuck in the ditch for days and, with the weather having turned so cold and wet, I don’t think she’d have survived much longer. She’s a very lucky little pony!”

After she was winched out of the ditch, the pony was taken to a local vet for a check-up and — importantly — a bath.

The mare, who has been named Puddles by staff at the charity, is not microchipped and the RSCPA is trying to trace her owner.

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“I’d like to say a big thank you to the fire crew who did a great job retrieving her from the mud and, although she was a little stiff and terrified, incredibly she came out unharmed,” Inspector Richardson added.

“She’s now having a well deserved-rest at the vets and will be cared for until we can trace her owners.

“We would love to find Puddles’ owner as she has clearly been on the run for quite some time. However, if no one comes forward to claim her then we’ll find her a loving new home.”

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Emergency services have been awarded certificates of commendation for their role in rescuing three neglected Shetland ponies, one which was in foal.

The Seaford crew from East Sussex Fire & Rescue, the West Sussex Fire & Rescue technical response unit and Matthew Holt of Sussex Police have been awarded the certificates by the RSPCA after they took part, with World Horse Welfare, in a five-hour rescue operation of the ponies in Piddinghoe, near Newhaven, East Sussex on 20 April 2018.

The police and fire services were requested by the RSPCA as capture pens needed to be carried on to the site which could not be accessed by vehicles, making the rescue “very tricky”.

The fire crews were given the RSPCA inspectorate certificate of commendation at a presentation last month and Mr Holt of Sussex Police is due to receive his certificate soon.

RSPCA chief inspector Patrick Hamby, who presented the certificates, said: “The RSPCA works very closely with the emergency services and we are always incredibly grateful for any help we receive from them.

“This was a multi-agency job and the help of East Sussex and West Sussex fire services, as well as Sussex Police and World Horse Welfare, were vital in ensuring that we could rescue the horses from poor conditions.

“We wanted to officially thank the emergency services for their efforts and recognise their support and hard work.”

Incident commander Tony McCord, at East Sussex Fire & Rescue said: “The ponies had not had any human contact and been neglected for an extended period of time and were in desperate need of care.

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The footbridge is roped off, but firefighters believe someone may have forgotten to close the rope, which allowed the horse

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The mare was rescued by firefighters after she sunk up to her hindquarters

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“As a team we all helped round the ponies up into the pens so they could be sedated, inspected and then put into horseboxes for transporting to the sanctuary.”

Michael Lewin, technical rescue unit manager at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, said: “I am very pleased this incident resulted in a positive outcome for the horses, and I would like to thank our team and the other agencies involved for their collaborative efforts. It is great to see they have been recognised for their hard work and efforts by the RSPCA.”

The ponies were taken into the care of World Horse Welfare where they have recovered from their ordeal.

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Helpers are doing all they can to rescue and care for horses and other animals separated from their owners in the California wild fires.

The fires have caused widespread devastation in the US state, destroying tens of thousands of acres and hundreds of homes, with the human death toll on Wednesday reaching 48 while many remain missing.

Thousands of firefighters are tackling the blazes and evacuation orders are in force across areas of the state.

Individuals and social media have been instrumental in reuniting animals and their owners, while numerous organisations are helping rescue and care for those in need.

Volunteers have been working to care for animals in need at shelters and to reunite owners with lost companions.

The Humane Society of Ventura County is acting as a sanctuary for animals evacuated from their homes.

It has also helped to rescue horses from fire-hit properties, providing them with veterinary care and safe shelter.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the outpour of support we have received,” said a HSVC spokesman.

“Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by the fires, and we remain committed to helping those animals and their families during this time.

“To those who have animals in our care, we would like to reassure you they are all accounted for and doing well. We will continue to care for your animals as long as need be so please keep yourselves and your families safe.”

The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control and the UC Davis Veterinary Emergency Response Team are among the other organisations helping care for horses and animals affected by the fires.

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The North Valley Animal Disaster Group (NVADG), which works with emergency agencies and responders to help people and animals in times of crisis, has handled more than 6,000 calls and has over 1,800 animals in its care.

“Thank you for the outpouring of support for the work of all-volunteer, all-donation-supported NVADG,” said a spokesman.

“We have many teams behind the fire lines evacuating, feeding and watering animals.

“Veterinarians are with us providing emergency animal care/triage as well. Teams are transferring animals just outside the evacuation road-blocks to emergency response volunteers who are transporting animals to the emergency shelters.

“We appreciate the support of all our partners during this unprecedented fire event.”

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A horse has been rescued by fire crews after becoming stuck “up to her hindquarters” in a muddy ditch.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 9.22am on 10 October to reports a 10-year-old mare had become trapped in a ditch at Cropredy, near Banbury.

Fire crews attended the scene from Banbury and Abingdon fire stations along with a specialist animal rescue team from Kindlington.

Crew manager Morgan Staveley from Banbury fire station said: “Horses are herd animals so if they get into trouble and get stuck like this, they tend to give up.

“Once they get a sense of freedom, a docile animal will normally attempt to bolt to safety and away from danger and this can prove hazardous to bystanders. This makes close proximity working with such a large and powerful animal extremely dangerous to the rescue teams.

“As the mare was unable to free herself we used the knowledge of the specialist crew from Kidlington to formulate a plan to free her.”

The owner’s daughter and a vet attended the scene.

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Firefighters rescue horse found neck-deep in ditch

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“The mare was sunk up to her hindquarters, and the suction effect of the mud made it difficult to release her leg,” said Mr Staveley. “Utilising the specialist medical knowledge of the vet to keep the horse docile throughout the rescue, we were able to place heavy lifting strops around the mare, and then used the 4×4 to gently pull her free.”

Mr Staveley said after the mare rested following her rescue, the crew, vet and owner’s daughter were pleased to see her on her feet and walking.

“Rescues of large animals can call for a technical solution, as in this case. We would rather attend such incidents than have concerned owners or riders risking injury to free an animal themselves. If in doubt, please dial 999,” said Mr Staveley.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Trailer owners have been warned of the importance of checking their towing vehicle after a horse had to be cut free from a trailer after the towbar snapped.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the incident on 22 September near Cassington, Oxfordshire, where the trailer had become separated from the vehicle and crashed into a tree on the side of the road.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service told H&H: “The trailer left the road and struck a large tree, severely damaging the trailer. A large branch narrowly missed injuring the horse.”

The fire and rescue crew worked for two hours using a makeshift ramp and an HGV platform to release the horse with the assistance of the horse’s owner and vet Sam Cutts of Hook Norton Veterinary Group.

Ms Cutts told H&H: “I’m very keen to say thank you to the fire service, who did such a fantastic job. Often in this type of situation it can be quite difficult to see very much of the horse, but the fire brigade used a camera that they are able to drop in to assess the inside of the trailer. I was able to stand with them and see the horse.

“The horse’s temperament was fantastic, he was an absolute saint and remarkably calm and had suffered no obvious significant injures. I’m delighted we were able to get a good ending and it didn’t turn out a lot worse.”

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The spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service added: “Accidents while towing are rare, but instances like this show the importance of not only checking your vehicle’s towing capacity, but also regularly inspecting the towbar and towing equipment.

“While the cause of this accident is unclear, any driver needs to ensure they confident and competent in towing a trailer and should follow the rules of the road, including observing speed limits and height restrictions.”

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A horse “is lucky to be alive” after escaping from his field and falling into a deep water-filled ditch almost two miles away.

Oliver, a six-year-old 15.1hh thoroughbred/warmblood, was found in a rhyne at Stawell, Somerset on 13 September by a member of the public, who alerted the RSPCA. The RSPCA contacted the Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service and approached Carol Easter, who lived close by, to ask for her help, not knowing at that stage she was the horse’s owner.

RSPCA inspector Jo Daniel, who attended with inspector Hayley Lawrence, said: “Poor Oliver was in a very dangerous situation. He was stuck a drainage ditch, almost up to his neck in the water, which would have been so stressful for him. He must have been stuck in mud under the surface too, as he was unable to move at all without our help.

“Oliver was sedated by a vet and a fire officer climbed down into the water to secure a harness onto him, and then, using a special lifting mechanism on the fire engine, we managed to carefully lift Oliver out of the water.”

Oliver escaped “without serious injury” and was treated by the vet for cuts and scrapes.

“We couldn’t have rescued Oliver without the specialist help of the fire service, so we’d like to say an enormous thank you to the crew for their help in saving Oliver’s life,” said Jo.

Oliver’s owner Carol said: “It was quite a surprise when, having received a phone call from inspector Daniel asking for help, I arrived to see it was my horse we were rescuing.

“I just can’t understand how he got there as it is so unusual for a horse to leave his friends. He lives out in a herd of youngsters and he was the only one who had got out. I can only think he had jumped the fence and couldn’t see his way home so went wandering the other side of the wood that runs the length of our land.”

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Paul Mitchell of Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service told H&H: “This was a collaborative effort with the RSPCA and the owner to ensure that our crews were able to rescue the horse while maintaining the safety of onlookers.

“Although this may have looked like a relatively stable situation, we would remind people to call the fire service or RSPCA in these situations as getting in with the animal may risk an injury to them or the animal.

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*UPDATE* The event has now been cancelled

An MP has added her voice to calls to cancel a sky lantern festival due to “extremely hazardous” current conditions.

Ruth George, Labour MP for High Peak in Derbyshire, has called on organisers of the Lights Festival at Buxton Raceway to pull the plug on the event.

The US-based company organises lantern festivals across the States, Canada, the UK and Ireland.

With no rain for weeks, the countryside is tinder-dry and firefighers across the country have been tackling grass fires, the most high-profile of which is less than 30 miles away on Saddleworth Moor.

Ms George has written to the organisers asking them to cancel “in the light of extremely hazardous conditions”.

Sky lanterns have caused numerous serious injuries to horses and other livestock, either through burns or by animals ingesting lantern parts.

This week, H&H reported on a racehorse who suffered a serious leg injury after a sky lantern is believed to have hit her.

A sky lantern festival, organised by the same company, that was due to take place at Belvoir Castle earlier this year, but was cancelled following public outcry.

Meanwhile, BBC Radio One banned the release of sky lanterns and balloons at its Big Weekend in May.

The Peak District National Park and Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) are among the other organisations calling for the cancellation of the Lights Festival. A change.org petition against the festival has also received more than 9,600 signatures.

“We would like to see the Lights Festival stopped,” said a statement from the Peak District National Park.

“We do not support the release of sky lanterns due to the potential impacts on wildlife and livestock, however our primary concern is now the risk of fire that is increased with the release of thousands of lanterns so close to the Peak District National Park boundary.

“Although the lanterns are claimed to be biodegradable and with a short burn period, there is no further detail provided on this, and by their very nature, the travel and final location of lanterns remains indiscriminate.

“To release thousands of naked flames into the sky when hundreds of firefighters and others are still battling flames in already tough conditions on the ground seems to go against all common sense.

“Holding an event like this when we are actively asking people to take extra care to avoid fires, not to light barbecues and other precautions, seems to be a completely unnecessary risk.

“In the current extremely dry conditions, it is likely that the remains of lanterns will still be present in the landscape for some time, during a key period where the wildlife breeding season reaches its close and livestock remain in open fields.

“This is an avoidable event that could lead to significant impacts on the wildlife, landscapes and livelihoods of the Peak District National Park.”

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A statement from DFRS said it is involved in speaking with the organisers via the event’s safety advisory group.

“DFRS is part of this group and a number of concerns have been raised about the event going ahead,” said a spokesman for the fire service.

“Every effort is being made to dissuade the event organisers from going ahead with the event.”

A spokesman for the company told The Telegraph: “The rice-paper body of the lantern is fire-resistant to prevent the flame from travelling.

“We have designed the fuel source in such a way that the flame is completely out before the lanterns descend and land.

“Regardless, we always have a fire crew waiting in the landing zone as a precaution.”

H&H has contacted the organisers for comment.

In this week’s magazine, out on 5 July, don’t miss our bumper show guide issue, with complete show listings for 2018 plus features on keeping horses sound on hard ground, the best show venues in Britain and much more.

In this week’s H&H interview, we talk to international event rider Izzy Taylor and check out our new feature ‘Fix it’ — Laura Tomlinson on improving a horse’s self-carriage. Read reports from across the disciplines over the weekend, including dressage action from Sheepgate, showjumping from Royal Highland and more.

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Newton Abbot racecourse has been the victim of a suspected arson attack after one of the chase fences was found on fire.

The incident happened at the Devon track sometime before 2am on Sunday (17 June) and local firefighters were called when flames were spotted from a nearby Premier Inn.

When the two fire crews arrived at the racecourse the wooden structure was well alight — it took one jet to stop the blaze, while fire fighters spent half an hour at the scene. The jump is at the far end of the racecourse but close to a footpath and was completely destroyed in the incident.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area at the time.

“Police were informed of an incident of suspected arson at Newton Abbot racecourse on Sunday, 17 June,” said a spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police.

“A wooden jumping fence was believed to be set alight. Enquiries were carried out, however no suspect was identified.”

Images of the fire were shared across social media and a post on a local Facebook page, from a spokesman at Newton Abbot Fire Station, read: “At just after 2am yesterday morning (17 June) both fire engines were mobilised to a large unknown fire at Newton Abbot racecourse.

“Once we arrived it became apparent that it wasn’t a building fire but one of the jumps on the racecourse. We drove our appliances to the far side of the course and used a main firefighting jet to extinguish the fire. One jump was severely damaged by fire.”

The fire service believes the likely cause of the blaze was “deliberate ignition.”

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It is unlikely that the fence will be repaired in time for Newton Abbot’s next raceday — the racecourse’s Ladies’ Day — which takes place on Tuesday, 26 June.

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A coloured cob found himself trapped in a car inspection pit after giving police the runaround.

Members of the public spotted the youngster running loose in Leatherhead, Surrey, on the morning of 19 April.

Police officers followed the pony along Orestan Lane, Effingham, and on to Calvert Road. The cob found his way into an industrial area, and fell into a car inspection pit.

Police called the fire service, and two engines from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service arrived at about 10.50am to help free the trapped pony.

A vet was also called to the scene to sedate the pony while he was rescued.

Using specialist equipment, he was lifted free from the pit by 1.15pm.

“White Watch, along with our colleagues from Painshill and Esher animal rescue attended a young horse who had fallen into an inspection pit,” said a spokesman from Leatherhead Fire Station.

“Working with a vet to sedate the horse, a successful rescue was carried out using a lifting harness.

“The horse was checked over by the vet and they reported no injuries. A good outcome for everyone involved.”

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H&H believes the pony has been taken into the care of a local rescue centre.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said the charity was not involved in the incident.

“We were called about it at the time but as police were dealing with the situation and a vet was called, our assistance wasn’t needed,” she told H&H.

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This week’s edition features 75 years of Royal Windsor Horse Show magic, Oliver Townend’s eventing grand slam bid and debate over grass versus surfaces

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A pregnant mare has been freed from a sinkhole, thanks to the “outstanding teamwork” of her rescuers.

The 10-year-old bay was discovered in the two-metre-deep hole on Sunday (28 January).

She had moved fields the previous day and her owner had been unaware of the presence of the sinkhole.

Crews from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) were called to the Holtspur yard at 11.18am and worked to free the seven months-pregnant mare.

“Excellent planning and outstanding teamwork led to a successful rescue,” said a BFRS spokesman.

Initially a rescue team from Beaconsfield Fire Station made the area safe and captured other horses who were in the field.

The crew, led by watch commander Carl Hayward, devised a rescue plan, before further rescuers from Aylesbury Fire Station and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) arrived.

“The plan involved digging a trench and access ramp down to the bottom of the sinkhole, allowing the horse to make its own exit,” said Denis Melia, station commander at High Wycombe and Gerrards Cross.

“This was a very well-managed incident — the initial crew made a thorough risk assessment, established a safe system of work from the outset and continuously reviewed this as more specialist assets and an attending vet were able to give their input.

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“The plan was refined and quality assured by the contributions of the RBFRS animal rescue officer, station commander Jesse James, and the BFRS-led animal rescue technicians in attendance, led by watch commander Kevin Bamford.”

After digging the trench and fitting the access ramp the mare climbed out of the hole to safety. She was not injured.

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A talented former event pony ensured he was the centre of attention again this week after becoming stuck in a bog.

Chit Chat III evented with his owner Phoebe Russell and also successfully competed in pony trials with Victoria Smith.

He was crowned Charles Owen British pony eventing champion at Brand Hall with Victoria in 2011 and had numerous top 10 finishes at novice and BE100 level during his competitive career.

Last week (21 September), Phoebe received a phone call from Emma Dunne, who looks after Chit Chat, to say the pony was stuck in deep clay and she needed the vet and fire service urgently.

The pony had escaped and made his way into what had once been a pond, now a patch of soft mud, between two hedges.

A total of 11 firefighters from Aylesbury Fire Station, two crews and an animal rescue unit, were at the scene for three hours.

They worked with two vets from Hampden Equine as well as a number of other helpers to free the 14.2hh, who has made a full and quick recovery from his ordeal.

Phoebe said she is “so relieved” the pony is safe.

“A huge thank you to my dad, who kept me calm, made hundreds of cups of tea, and generally made sure everything ran smoothly,” she told H&H.

“[Thank you also to] Emma, who looks after the retired boys, Hampden Vets, our local farmer Mark who came with a Manitou [forklift], and of course the fire service who went above and beyond to get him out in the most comfortable sympathetic way they could.”

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She added the pony is “absolutely fine” following his adventure.

“The ongoing joke has been that he clearly did it because he missed being featured in Horse & Hound now he’s retired!” said Phoebe.

“He has a tiny nick on a hind fetlock and a tiny graze between his hind legs, but is sound, happy and full of himself.

“He is just very confused why we’re all making such a fuss about the whole thing — he is one very lucky pony.”

Following a “serious bath, plenty of cuddles and warm mash”, Chit Chat was back in his field later that day to enjoy a stretch and some grass.

A spokesman for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue told H&H firefighters used dedicated animal rescue equipment to free the pony.

“[This] included a variety of strops, quick-release lifting bar, ice path, rescue glide, mud lance, ropes and crooks, along with a farmer’s machine to assist with the heavy lifting,” he added.

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Rescuers are urging owners to check their fences following a spate of emergency calls to horses that have escaped from their fields and needed rescuing after getting stuck.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) has been called to 10 horse rescues over the past four months. All these horses were uninjured.

These have involved equines stuck in ditches, with many also submerged in water.

Most recently, SWFRS firefighters rescued a horse from a river in Peterstone Wentlooge, near Newport, in water up to his neck.

Crews from Ely and Duffryn responded to the call, which came in on 21 March, and managed to safely free the horse within an hour.

The other rescues have taken place in Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport. SWFRS sent specialist appliances from its Bridgend, Ely and Malpas stations to support other firefighters safely rescue animals.

RSPCA Cymru frequently assists firefighters in callouts such as these and helps decide whether a vet is needed.

“RSPCA Cymru continues to urge equine owners to check their animals, ideally, twice each day, to help ensure they are safe and out of harm’s way,” said a spokesman for the charity.

“By checking fences, gates and perimeters of paddocks, owners can help prevent their horses straying into areas of danger.”

He added the charity is “exceptionally grateful” for the fire service’s support in rescuing equines.

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Andrew Spence, SWFRS’ head of technical rescue training, said its specialist crews have “years of experience” in carrying out this type of large animal rescue.

“While the priority for us is to safely rescue the animal from their precarious positions in a ditch, with a minimal amount of stress, we also ensure that we keep our crews safe from being bitten or kicked during the process,” he added.

“We work closely with Coleg Gwent and their Usk campus to undertake their animal handling course, so that our firefighters have an understanding as to how to approach these ‘flight or fight’ animals safely, and also to assess whether veterinary assistance is required.

“We also take guidance from partner agencies such as RSPCA Cymru to determine the best plan of attack to ensure the welfare of the animal throughout this type of rescue.”

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A pioneering firefighter who has saved countless horses’ lives through improving equine rescue skills in the emergency services has been given a prestigious award.

Jim Green, of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, was announced the winner of the Sir Colin Spedding Award at the National Equine Forum on 2 March.

Mr Green grew up in the New Forest and trained as a forest manager before joining the fire service in 1996.

He has been at the forefront of responding to animal rescues in Hampshire since 2004. He also led the implementation of animal rescue methods, training and equipment that are now standardised across UK fire services.

He helped to set up the safer horse rescues initiative with Professor Josh Slater, which was launched by the British Equine Veterinary Association in 2007.

“Little did I know when joining the fire service that my path would lead me in this direction,” said Mr Green. “I am excited for the future as together we can develop these pioneering activities to promote safer rescues, improve welfare and protect livelihoods.”

Among his rescues was “Spencer”, who fell through the floor of a lorry and trapped his hind leg between the inner and outer wheels of a lorry in 2016.

He is also the co-founder of the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA), which last year published a survey into equine transport safety.

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He was rescue advisor to the veterinary services team at the London 2012 Olympics.

Mr Green was unable to collect his award from the Princess Royal as he is on sabbatical in the US, where he is developing animal and disaster response strategies with the centre of equine health at the University of California.

The runner-up spots were taken by equine veterinary nurse Bonny Millar and Maureen James of the side-saddle authority.

Mr Green will deliver the memorial lecture at the 2018 forum.

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An ex-racehorse aptly named Tight Squeeze has had a lucky escape from a “swamp-like” ditch.

The 20-year-old mare, who was formerly trained by Peter Hiatt, fell into the ditch on the morning of New Year’s Eve (31 December).

Once Tight Squeeze’s predicament was discovered, firefighters were called to her field near to the Wiggington Road in South Newington.

A crew of 15 from Banbury and Hook Norton fire stations and the specialist animal rescue team from Kidlington arrived at 10.20am.

Tight Squeeze, who won 14 of her 87 races, had been trapped for a number of hours.

“On arrival crews found the aptly named Tight Squeeze was stranded in a deep-banked, extremely muddy, swamp-like ditch, suffering from extreme fatigue and cold,” said a spokesman from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Working with a vet, the rescue team used slings and harnesses to secure Tight Squeeze and prevent her from slipping further into the ditch.

“After a number of attempts to persuade her out under her own steam failed, it was evident that the rescue was becoming more complex as she was sinking further into the mud and also into a state of unconsciousness,” said the spokesman.

“After a discussion with the vet it was decided that one last attempt to drag her from the ditch should be made before sedating her and using a tractor to lift her clear.

“The crews got to work with shovels and spades to create a sloped side to the ditch and safe landing stage to drag her on to.

“During this time the extremely fatigued horse seemed to recognise the attempts being made and roused herself; and with all the firefighters on the rescue slings pulling her away from the ditch, and one monumental effort from Tight Squeeze, she was dragged to safety.”

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The mare was able to stand after around five minutes and is recovering well.

Station manager Brian Butler who attended the incident added: “Tight Squeeze is an extremely courageous old lady.

“The crews worked extremely hard and professionally to conclude what was a complex and dramatic rescue”.

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Christmas arrived early at the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) with the delivery of a new trailer on 7 December.

The trailer, given on permanent loan by Redwings Horse Sanctuary, will be used to transport Randy the moveable horse.

The 15hh, 200kg palomino model horse is used to train firefighters across the country how to rescue horses in trouble.

Trainers overturning, horses stuck in ditches and rivers are all part of Randy’s training remit.

The horse also visits schools and gives demonstrations at events to help raise the profile of the fire service’s work.

His old trailer fell into disrepair this summer and was deemed unusable.

The NFRS receives no statutory funding for animal rescue work so launched a Facebook appeal to find a replacement.

“It is our pleasure to support the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service by loaning our trailer for both their animal rescue demonstrations and training, and for the safe transportation of their trusty education horse Randy,” said Lynn Cutress, Redwings’ chief executive.

“Randy is such an impressive and vital training tool, and as well as loaning our trailer we have also pledged a retirement home at the Sanctuary to Randy should he need it,” she added.

This year up to October the NFRS carried out 87 animal rescues, compared to 146 during the whole of the previous year.

“Randy is the only mannequin we have,” said NFRS operational support officer Jennie Schamp, “so his regular and safe transportation across the county is incredibly important.”

Teams at Kings Lynn, Thetford, Carrow and Dereham train with Randy regularly to keep up their standards.

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Horse-handling courses provided by the behaviour team at Redwings this year helped give further practical training.

“Hands-on training, with real horses is so valuable for our teams,” said Perry Smith, NFRS technical services officer.

“Not only were we able to learn the basics of how to handle horses safely, but we learned how to understand their body language in unpredictable and changing situations to also ensure the safety of our firefighers.”

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An unlucky mare has been rescued from a canal after falling off a towpath with her rider.

Firefighters from Leamington and an animal rescue unit from Rugby were called to Grand Union Canal on 17 June after receiving reports of the accident.

Coloured pony Soda had slipped off the towpath of the Offchurch Greenway canal.

She and her rider then fell into the water.

The rider was not injured and was able to get out of the canal, but Soda struggled to climb the bank.

“It is thanks to her rider’s quick response and with the help of crews that Soda was safely pulled out of the water by a harness,” said a spokesman for Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“This is just one of the ways we are working to help keep our residents and animals of Warwickshire safe.”

Soda is not the pony to have been rescued from a watery situation by firefighters this year.

In February, horseandhound.co.uk reported that crews in Cheshire had been called to a canal in Sandbach, where they found a pony standing in the water by the bank.

A team from Sandbach Fire Station and the animal rescue unit from Knutsford attended and helped to lift the pony, named Babe, to safety.

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• Horse stuck on gate has lucky escape

“Two of us put dry suits on and went into the water,” firefighter Erdal Cankaya told H&H.

They placed some special sheets along the side of the canal where Babe was standing to protect him from any sharp edges.

Firefighters then put straps underneath the pony and enlisted the help of a forklift truck to carefully lift him out of the steep-sided canal to safety.

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A grey gelding had a lucky escape from a muddy ditch earlier this week (7 March).

The horse, named Boomer, was grazing in his field in Charlwood, Surrey, when his foot got caught in a ditch.

As he tried to free himself, he slipped into the ditch and became trapped.

His owner found him stuck and called firefighters to the field in Charlwood Road.

A crew of eight arrived at the field accompanied by a vet.

“Fire services were called at 12.45pm on Monday afternoon,” a spokesman for Surrey Fire and Rescue told H&H.

“They sent two fire engines and a specialist team to rescue the horse. The owner was in attendance.”

It took an hour and a half to pull Boomer from the ditch using a specialist vehicle.

Boomer was unharmed in the ordeal.

“He was fine, he managed to carry on without having to go to the vets,” added the spokesman.

Dramatic rescue

Last month (24 February), horseandhound.co.uk reported that firefighters had helped rescue a horse trapped in a horsebox.

Equo ambassador Ali Dane had arrived at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre, Glos, on when the accident happened.

Miss Sandro “Legs” (pictured, below) had tried to jump over a partition towards the living area of the four-horse lorry and was “completely stuck”.

“As she is 17.3hh, there was not much space to move,” said Ali. “She was panicking quite a lot.”

Bystanders in the lorry park had already called the fire service and vet Clare Smith, who was competing at the event, quickly grabbed some sedatives to give to the mare.

Gloucester Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Gloucester North and Gloucester South, including their large animal rescue team.

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• Firefighters cut horse out of lorry in dramatic rescue
• Five-month-old foal rescued from muddy ditch
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“They were fantastic,” said Ali. “They completely sealed off the whole area so nobody could park nearby to keep it as quiet as possible.”

Firefighters cut the partition to free the horse, who was wearing travel boots and bandages and escaped with superficial cuts and a haematoma.

“I cannot imagine what would have happened had we not had that level of care from the fire service, who were trained in animal rescue,” added Ali.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Disaster does not discriminate. Any type of equine can end up in an emergency situation, from grazing ponies caught in floodwater to competition horses trapped in an overturned lorry or a burning building.

The UK’s fire and rescue services are called to an estimated 5,000 large animal rescues every year, according to Jim Green, animal rescue specialist. Many of these are equine-related. Yet, despite this statistic, few owners treat problem prevention as a priority — especially when it is hard to see an obvious return for the time and money spent.

The less common a potential catastrophe, the harder it is to find motivation to take precautions to reduce risk. But remember, arson attacks are on the increase and flooding has been all too frequent this winter.

The British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) held its first international conference in Prague (3-5 December) to discuss effective management of animal-related incidents, be it fire, flood, entrapment or other disaster.

Those at the conference agreed that large-animal rescues bring huge challenges. Thinking about it calmly, it is obvious that people must take priority in any rescue scenario. In an emergency situation, however, owners sometimes struggle to accept that humans come before horses.

Speakers at the conference pooled their expertise and discussed memorable rescues, both good and bad. Every catastrophe is different and opportunities for emergency services to gain hands-on experience are limited, hence the need to share knowledge.

Fire facts

Effective fire safety was a major focus. There were excellent, albeit alarming, presentations on equine evacuations after the recent devastating bush fires in Australia, plus much discussion on how best to manage horses in cases of fire.

An American review, presented by Rebecca Gimenez, highlighted the horrors of fires involving horses where more than 70% of the premises were ablaze by the time rescue services arrived. Of 1,200 animals involved in more than 104 fires, less than half could be rescued and 701 died. Among the human responders were 31 injuries and two fatalities.

The awful truth is that many rescued horses later succumb to the effects of burns, smoke inhalation and associated lung damage. Horses are likely to inhale the smoke and toxic gases that rise upwards in a fire, as they hold their heads high when they panic.

The severity of injury to the lungs can be more serious than visible burns affecting the skin — burning to the delicate lung tissue can cause severe respiratory problems. Clinical signs are often immediate, yet horses should remain under observation for at least 72 hours as some may not exhibit signs for two to three days.

Treatment includes use of supplementary oxygen, if practical, and sometimes a tracheostomy — where a breathing tube is inserted into the windpipe to create an open airway. Various medications can also help, but treatment is challenging and the long-term prognosis is unpredictable and variable. If there are also extensive skin burns, it may be time to think seriously about whether it is fair to continue.

Prevention is key

Dry straw burns faster than petrol. A fire involving combustible materials (such as wood, straw, hay and shavings) will double in size every minute — increasing by more than 4,000 times in just 10 minutes.

The emergency services can only do so much, especially in the case of rural or isolated yards that may take time to reach, so prevention is key. This means thinking about practical stable design and reducing flammable materials at the yard.

Allow clear access for emergency vehicles at all times, ensuring that stable doors are easy to open and left unlocked — imagine a firefighter trying to open them in full protective gear, including gloves.

And how will a horse already frightened by fire react to firefighters? He’ll most probably be reluctant to come anywhere near them, let alone be led out to safety.

One sensible suggestion is to accustom horses to fire alarms by running a regular practice before feeding, for example.

Plan ahead now so there is more than one escape route for the horses, ideally leading to a safe, fenced-off area that is upwind. Loose horses are an additional hazard and can soon become casualties on the road. Indeed, the fire and rescue services classify horses as “hazardous material” during an incident and will not release them unless there is a safe place for evacuation.

It’s equally important to ensure that everyone knows the location of water supplies for the fire brigade and that all safety information is clearly visible.

As Anton Phillips of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service summarised at the conference, rescuing animals from burning buildings is risky and often unachievable. Firefighters cannot be relied upon as the only measure to protect animals from fire, he pointed out, adding that owners who have planned for such an incident are less likely to lose everything than those who have not.

Ref: Horse & Hound; 25 February 2016

A rider has praised the quick actions of vets and emergency services after her horse became trapped in her horsebox.

Equo ambassador Ali Dane had just arrived at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre, Glos, on Wednesday (24 February) when the accident happened.

She was entered to compete Miss Sandro, known as “Legs”, in the elementary restricted and the novice open at the venue’s British Dressage winter regionals.

After parking up and checking the mare had travelled safely, she went to buy a cup of tea and watch her friend, vet Clare Smith, compete.

Minutes later, she heard an announcement over the loud speaker that a horse was in distress.

Ali told H&H that she dropped her drink on the floor and ran to her horsebox.

Legs had tried to jump over a partition towards the living area of the four-horse lorry and was “completely stuck”.

“As she is 17.3hh, there was not much space to move,” said Ali. “She was panicking quite a lot.”

Bystanders in the lorry park had already called the fire service and Clare quickly grabbed some sedatives to give to the mare.

Gloucester Fire and Rescue Service sent crews from Gloucester North and Gloucester South, including their large animal rescue team.

“They were fantastic,” said Ali. “They completely sealed off the whole area so nobody could park nearby to keep it as quiet as possible.”

Firefighters cut the partition to free the horse, who was wearing travel boots and bandages and escaped with superficial cuts and a haematoma.

“I cannot imagine what would have happened had we not had that level of care from the fire service, who were trained in animal rescue,” added Ali.

She added her partner is head of animal rescue at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and was giving a presentation about government cuts at the time.

Last year, H&H reported on how budget cuts to emergency services pose a welfare threat to horses (news, 5 February 2015).

“People do not realise how threatened the animal rescue services actually are,” she said.

Ali and Legs stayed at Adam Kemps’ Gloucestershire yard that night before travelling back to her South Oxfordshire yard the following day.

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• Horses stuck in canal and swimming pool helped to safety
• Stranded horses led to safety in dramatic flood rescue

“The majority of our large animal rescues used to be carried out with rope loops, fire hose and crew power, which did not offer protection for our firefighters,” chief fire officer Stewart Edgar told H&H.

“Thanks to our specialist equipment and in-house training, firefighters at our Gloucester North Station and across the county have been specially trained to carry out large animal rescues making the rescue easier for the animal and safer for the crews involved.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A horse has had a very lucky escape from serious injury after falling through the floor of a horsebox.

The horse, named Spencer, was trapped after one of his legs fell through the wooden floor of the horsebox he was travelling in on Sunday (21 February).

Animal rescue officer Jim Green, of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, told H&H that it is a “timely reminder” for owners to check the flooring of their lorries and trailers ahead of the spring.

“This was a very up-together looking lorry on the face of it,” he said. “You would not have thought there was any problem at all.”

Spencer’s owner, Anne Dance, told H&H she had the vehicle serviced a couple of weeks ahead of its plating in December and would never have put a horse in it if she thought it was unsafe.

Mrs Dance had just arrived at Mayhill Stud, Hants, when the accident happened.

She stopped the lorry while her friend opened the gate, then checked the camera in the horse compartment as she went to pull forward.

She saw Spencer had appeared to “sit down” and stopped the vehicle immediately.

The horse’s hind leg had gone through the floor and was stuck between the inner and outer rear wheels of the lorry.

Vet Sarah Gent, who happened to be on-site, quickly sedated the horse before the emergency services arrived.

Five fire crews, from Droxford, Lyndhurst and Overton along with another vet, Jo Dyson, and Mr Green, attended.

The horse was anaesthetised to prevent injury the horse while the team tried to extract him.

Firefighters lifted up the lorry on a jack so they could remove the wheels and firefighters used strops to manoeuvre the horse inside the box and free the trapped limb.

He was then moved on an animal slider to a large bed of straw, while they waited for him to come round.

By that evening, Spencer was up and weight bearing on all four legs.

“This was a very traumatic experience for the horse, owner and the people at the show,” said Mr Green.

He added horse owners need to check the integrity of the floor frequently.

Ms Dyson, from Animed, said the rescue was “just incredible” and that Spencer was “amazingly lucky” to escape without serious injury.

Related articles:

• Check horsebox floors to save your horse’s life *H&H VIP*
• Could trailer MOTs become law?
• 12 tips for travelling horses

Pictures of the rescue were shared on Friends of the Hampshire Animal Rescue Team’s Facebook page and have so far been shared more than 7,000 times.

Mrs Dance said yesterday (Monday, 22 February) that Spencer is recovering well and when she trotted him up that morning, he was “barely lame”.

“Words cannot describe how pleased and thankful I am to his rescuers,” she said.

“They were totally amazing. I am so, so grateful.”

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A veteran horse has been rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped in mud.

Twenty-nine-year-old Khaheer was found unable to get to his feet last week (9 January).

Firefighters were called to his field Near Clee Hill, Shropshire, at 2.35pm to help him back to is feet.

He had been trapped in the boggy conditions for more than an hour.

C

leoby Mortimer crews joined Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) large animal rescue team and Mark Sanderson of Severn Edge Vets to assist with the rescue.

The bay gelding was sedated by Mr Sanderson before being pulled onto guide sheets using a technique known as the “forward skid” (pictured, right).

“We moved him to a safe area to be lifted in the specialist medical harness,” said a spokesman from SFRS. “Heavy rain and boggy terrain made the movement difficult.

“A medical harness was used by the specialist teams to gently lift Khaheer and he was moved to a safe area where the vets could examine him.

“Everyone was hoping Khaheer had the strength to stand. He was released from the system when the vet was happy.”

Khaheer is now “recovering well” following the two-hour rescue operation.

Rescue training

Last year (1 April) SFRS ran a large animal rescue course for firefighters.

Six students took part in the four-day course and now assist rescues with the team that has been in place for two years.

“The students thoroughly enjoyed their training, even when they were knee-deep in mud rescuing Bullseye [a dummy horse] from another tiring scenario,” watch manager Craig Jackson told H&H.

“They can now take a more active role in real rescues and have their hands on the equipment, working close to the animal.”

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A miniature Shetland named Pudding has been revealed as one of the most unusual items left behind by Travelodge guests last year.

Pudding’s owners had been staying at the Ayr branch of the hotel chain last summer.

They asked staff to look after the pony while they ran some errands around the town, but they ended up being much longer than they expected.

“The team looked after the pony and fed and watered him,” a Travelodge spokesman told H&H.

“They pony was absolutely fine and was a massive hit with guests and staff.”

Pudding is not the only extraordinary thing to have been left at Travelodges in 2015.

A Chewbacca costume, diamond tiara and a politician’s speech are among the other finds that have made their way to lost and found.

Pudding is also not the only Shetland to have hit the headlines this week for making into “lost property”.

In Trowbridge, Wilts, a miniature Shetland, known as Harvey (pictured, top), escaped and made his way to the town’s fire station.

Bradford on Avon’s community policing team described it as “Hot Fuzz moment number one of 2016”.

A concerned member of the public called police to report a Shetland pony “galloping” towards the fire station.

PCSO Andrew Maclachlan found the equine escapee grazing on the grass verge between the fire and ambulance stations.

“Concerned that he might return to the road, the pony was shepherded into the fire [station] car park. A superb multi agency approach between fire and police using carrots, apples and polo mints (other brands are available) resulted in successful capture of said pony,” said a post on the neighbourhood team’s Facebook page on Monday (4 January).

Meanwhile, firefighters from Trowbridge Fire Station took to Twitter to try and find the pony’s owner.

“I have seen some weird things in my time but coming face to face with a pony on the way to work just about takes the biscuit,” they tweeted.

Shortly after, Harvey’s owner was found and the pair were reunited.

“Apparently he has recently learned to open the gate to his paddock,” said a fire service spokesman.

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A fire at a top harness racing yard in Ontario, Canada, has killed more than 40 horses.

Firefighters from five different departments were called to Jamie and Barb Miller’s Classy Lane Stables on Monday night (4 January) where they found one of five large barns ablaze (not pictured — stock image used).

The horses killed were all Standardbreds, owned by trainers who raced them at some of southern Ontario’s best-known tracks, including Mohawk, Woodbine and Flamboro Downs.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but its ferocity was such that fire crews were still at the scene in the early hours of the following morning.

Puslinch Fire & Rescue officer Jason Benn told local media: “It took around five hours to combat the fire to bring it to a controllable stage. Freezing temperatures made it more difficult.”

The Millers were abroad at the time, but were expected to return on Tuesday. Mrs Miller told The Canadian Press that she is unsure of the exact number of horses that died, but estimates that it was at least 43.

The multi-million dollar Classy Lane Stables opened in 2003. It was home to around 222 horses and has facilities including a seven-eighths mile track, a one-third mile sand jog track, wash rooms, a swimming pool, a tack shop, a blacksmith and vet on site and 31 paddocks.

Trainer George Peters’ testimony on the stable’s website reads: “Classy Lane is the place to be. The name is appropriate from the people on down to the facilities. Everything we need is here, including the best racetrack in Ontario.”

Mr Peters, who trained Glorys Comet to win 56 races and more than $2 million in prizemoney in the late 1990s, is one of nine trainers based at the stable.

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A stallion, believed to have been stuck in fast-flowing water for more than 36 hours, has been rescued by firefighters.

Seven-year-old Frankie went missing from his field in West Yorkshire last week (Tuesday, 27 October).

His owner Claire Robinson and her partner Lee Gibbison launched a search for the missing horse and the party were out looking for Frankie until 2am on Wednesday, 28 October. They finally located him at around 11am in a moorland culvert at Withens End Lane, Rishworth, Sowerby Bridge.

“We searched ourselves for quite a long time,” said Claire. “I was really worried. I thought he was going to be dead or someone had pinched him.”

Upon discovering Frankie, Claire tried to lead the stallion to safety, but was unable to free him from the water.

She called the emergency services and crews from Cleckheaton’s technical rescue team arrived just before 1pm.

A vet from Hird and Partners sedated Frankie while firefighters set up a tripod to winch the stallion to safety.

“The culvert was about 10 foot deep and runs about three miles,” said station manager Mark Allen. “The horse had been in the field next to the culvert and could not get out. It was a very unusual situation.

“We set up a tripod in conjunction with the local vet who did a fantastic job. He sedated the horse and we got in and put a headcollar on.

“We lifted the horse through the tripod system and left him in the hands of the owner and vet.”

Claire said Frankie is now “fine” and walked back to the safety of his field.

“The fire crews and the vet did a fantastic job,” she said. “I was panicking at one point that he would not make it because he was in there so long. I think he was in there 36 hours plus.”

Mr Allen said that with the heavy downpour the following evening, Frankie could have been in grave danger had he not been found when he was.

“Overnight, if the culvert had swollen with water, it could have gone over the horse’s head,” he added.

The rescue took over three hours to complete.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now