Happy ending for Ghara the horse after rescue from ditch

At around 2pm yesterday afternoon on-call firefighters from Totton were called out after a 17 hand horse was found upside in a ditch.

Specialist animal rescue teams from Lyndhurst and Winchester were mobilised to help rescue the 20-year-old animal.

HIWFRS Animal Tactical Advisor, Jim Green said:

“This was a challenging rescue due to Ghara being a large horse and trapped in a restricted environment.

“We had the equipment and skills to adapt our plans which proved necessary, as Ghara fought the drugs required to calm her sufficiently in order to lift her with machinery.

“The digger, initially brought in to lift her gently over the bank, was then used to dig away the ditch on the opposite side and we slid her out manually using strops.

“Once up on her feet, Ghara was led slowly back to a farm for a further check up by the vet.

“I’d like to thank everyone, who worked so hard into the evening to bring about a successful outcome, including the vets and a local agricultural contractor, who offered their services.”

Ghara appeared no worse for her ordeal the following day when her owner sent in this photo.