Narcoleptic mare rescued from ‘muddy ordeal’
A horse with a rare sleep disorder has been rescued from a “muddy ordeal” by firefighters.
Mare Molly, 27, has narcolepsy, a condition causing her to fall asleep unexpectedly.
On Wednesday evening (14 December), the veteran fell asleep and tumbled into a ditch.
When she woke up she found herself trapped in four feet of mud.
Firefighters were called to her field in Willington Road, Chester, at 9.38pm to help free her.
Two fire engines from Chester and animal rescue team from Bollington attended.
“A vet came to sedate her so the crew could attach specialist equipment to help her out, while a farmer used a digger to create a ramp in the bankside for her to walk up,” said a spokesman from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“The rescue teams guided Molly out and after around 10 minutes lying down to gather her strength she was able to get back up.
“We have spoken to Molly’s owner today who has assured us she is safe and well after her muddy ordeal.”
What is narcolepsy in horses?
Narcolepsy is a rare and incurable sleep disorder of the central nervous system.
Popular articles:
- Charlotte Dujardin’s surprise Christmas present: her very own Valegro
- ‘If I got nervous I’d explode’: two share Olympia puissance spoils
- A night to remember: Valegro’s retirement ceremony at Olympia in pictures
It is characterised by spontaneous “sleep attacks” at inappropriate times – usually accompanied by an uncontrollable loss of muscle tone.
Much of what is known about the condition in equines is extrapolated from human sleep studies or based on behavioural observations.
One of the reasons for the lack of scientific research into equine sleep patterns is the difficulty in conducting the necessary recording of the electrical activity of the brain, muscle and heart without disturbing the horse’s normal behaviour – and therefore his sleep pattern.
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.