An mischievous foal found herself in an unlikely predicament this week — when she got her head stuck in a wheelbarrow.
The six-month-old filly, named Meadow, managed to escape from her field in Keymer, West Sussex, on 1 October, and trap her head in the barrow.
Panicked Meadow made matters worse as she galloped around with the wheelbarrow on her head, striking it against the electric fencing and giving herself shocks.
A neighbour spotted the distressed youngster and contacted the fire service and a local RSPCA officer.
Officers from the technical rescue unit of West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) arrived at the field just after 8.30am.
The group of rescuers was eventually able to prise the wheelbarrow free from Meadow’s head while they distracted her with pony nuts.
“She immediately went to graze afterwards like nothing had happened,” said Fern Spencer, who looks after the Highland cross at Baldwins Meadows yard.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
A physio has since checked Meadow for any injuries, and she has been given the all-clear.
“She’s completely unharmed,” said Fern. “This morning I was poo-picking and she tried to climb in the wheelbarrow – she’s just not bothered.
“She wants to be everywhere she’s not allowed to be. She’s into everything and she always picks things up and launches them across the field. She’ll nick a hat off your head.
“I can’t look at her without laughing now I know she’s ok.”
A spokesman from WSFRS said the ordeal had been a “steep learning curve” for Meadow.
“When we arrived she was very distressed, but thankfully the firefighters were able to unhook the wheelbarrow from her head,” added RSPCA animal collection officer Julie Parsons.
“Once she was free she calmly walked off and started grazing, oblivious to all the commotion she had caused.”
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
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
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.
