The large animal rescue team from Bromyard Fire Station, part of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, was called out on 3 September after an in-foal mare became trapped in a bog.
Ruby, a 17hh Belgian Draft mare, had broken through some electric fencing when she later became trapped.
Her owner, Beverley Wylde, alerted the emergency services and her vets, Severn Edge Equine, who worked together on a plan to rescue the 800kg mare.
Beverley also confirmed that Ruby is in foal.
“On arrival the fire crew found Ruby up to her neck in the bog,” said a spokesperson from Bromyard Fire Station.
“Straw was placed in front of her and pushed down to try and give her something to stand on and hopefully get out, but she was already very tired and wasn’t able to.”
After exhausting initial efforts to give Ruby footing to free herself, crews devised a plan to lift her out using strops and a specialist spills harness. This is a large-animal rescue harness designed with wide straps that fit around the chest and hindquarters, spreading the horse’s weight evenly and keeping them secure during lifting.
“It wasn’t easy to get the strops around [the mare’s] body for the lift, but after some time the crews were successful,” the spokesperson added.
Lifted to safety
Georgie Courage was the attending vet from Severn Edge Equine Vets. She sedated Ruby to keep her calm during the lifting process.
Bromyard Fire Station praised her involvement: “She [Georgie] was very good and had an excellent understanding of what the fire crews could do.”
Once Ruby was lifted clear of the bog, she was carried to safety and allowed to stand in the lifting harness for a time to regain her balance. She was then walked back to her stable, where she could have a thorough health check.
Georgie confirmed that Ruby was uninjured and in good health, and would be fine after a good rest.
“I’d like to say at massive thank you to Georgie the vet and the emergency services for saving my girl who is in foal,” said Ruby’s owner, Beverley Wylde.
Bromyard Fire Station thanked everyone involved in the rescue, calling it “teamwork at its best”.
Ruby’s owner has since started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Ruby’s veterinary care and to donate to the emergency services who helped save her.
Images © Bromyard Fire Station
