Animal rescue firefighters save New Forest pony stuck in water

A sharp-eyed family staying at an Ashurst campsite spotted a New Forest pony stuck in a treacherous pond late last night.

An animal rescue officer and crews from Lyndhurst and Winchester were called to Lyndhurst Road in Ashurst at around 9pm to find the pony neck deep in water.

With the support of a New Forest agister, firefighters used mud paths to reach the animal and then release it from the pond using specialist rescue techniques.

The young and fit pony quickly recovered and was soon back off into the New Forest countryside.

After cleaning their equipment, firefighters returned to station shortly after midnight.