Upside-down horse rescued from ditch by fire crews

A horse has been rescued by firefighters after being found upside-down in a ditch.

Fire crews were called at 14:00 GMT on Sunday to land near Totton, Hampshire, where Ghara, a 20-year-old mare, was trapped.

They worked for several hours to free the 17-hand-tall (1.73m) animal using a digger and strops.

On Monday, the horse "appeared no worse for her ordeal" in a photo from her owner, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) said.

HIWFRS animal tactical adviser 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."

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