Firefighters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight First & Rescue Service raced to the aid of a bay horse who became stuck in a muddy bog while out hacking in the New Forest.
Tyse and his owner were out riding in the village of Emery Down when the 16hh bay horse stepped on to what appeared to be a normal patch of grass and began sinking.
The rider was able to free herself and called for help.
Crews from Redbridge, as well as specialist animal rescue teams from Lyndhurst and Winchester, attended the scene. They were on site for three hours.
“At around 4pm on Monday (16 June), Redbridge crews were alerted and supported on the scene by our specialist animal rescue teams in Lyndhurst and Winchester,” said a spokesperson.
“Under the supervision of a local vet, firefighters used a barrel technique to remove to the horse from the bog, before carrying out a controlled rollover, with specialist strops and a head harness equipment in use.”
Tyse was successfully pulled out of the mud and he was reported to be unharmed, albeit very muddy.
“The entire operation lasted around three hours, with the teams returning to station shortly after 7pm,” added a spokesperson.
“Thanks to their swift and skilled response, Tyse was left muddy but unharmed.”
Specialist animal rescue teams
Specialist animal rescue teams are made up of people from rural backgrounds who have many years’ experience of handling horses and livestock.
They attend incidents involving animals in order to advise the officer in charge on matters of health and safety, animal welfare and rescue techniques.
According to the Hampshire & Isle of Wight First & Rescue Service website, specialist animal rescue team members are trained in animal psychology, as well as how to handle different species and how to react to an animal in distress.
They train regularly under the guidance of the animal rescue specialists.
Main image supplied by Hampshire & Isle of Wight First & Rescue Service
