Flood Heroes

Late on Friday afternoon, the 20th July, we went to check on our horse at Wolverley because the front field does occasionally flood when there has been a good amount of rain. When we got there, this field was under about three feet of water and the horse in there was standing in water up to his knees. Luckily he is a very big horse and was ok.

A flash flood had caused the stream at the side of the fields to overflow and a brown river the width of two fields was pouring across the road causing the cars to struggle slowly to get through. Our horse was in a field further back and there were also two more horses and a pony trapped the other side of the water.

We phoned Andrew Penny, who owns the neighbouring farm, to see if he could help and he said we could put the horses in his barn which was just about on dry land on one side of the water. He came and led three of the bigger horses through the water, which was up to the tops of our legs. The horses were frightened but behaved well. We had to stop the traffic while the horses were being led up the road, through the torrent that was crossing the road, and into the farmyard. We would like to thank all the drivers who showed patience while we did this.

When we got to the barn, Andrew and his two sons made makeshift pens out of gates to separate the horses and provided hay and water for them.

We were able to keep the horses in the barn for a few days until the water went down and the ground started to dry out. We have no idea what we would have done with the horses if Andrew hadn't offered his help and the barn for us all to use. We are all very grateful to him.