Trapped horse sparks emergency rescue at Wirral riding school

May 11 2009 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Firemen rescue a horse from mud in Wirral

A HORSE was at the centre of a dramatic rescue yesterday morning after getting stuck up to its neck in mud in a riding school field.

Rescuers believe Penny, a seven-year-old horse at the Barnston Riding Centre in Wirral, may have been trapped overnight – and faced certain death without the intervention of specialist fire crews.

Fire crews were called upon the discovery at 8.45am yesterday morning, with engines attending the scene from Upton and later from Croxteth, which had the specialist heavy lifting supplies required to rescue the horse.

Croxteth watch manager Gary Leithsaid: “The horse was buried up to her neck and shoulders in a muddy pool and possibly could have been there all night.

“It took the best part of two hours to rescue her and the vet was concerned and didn’t think she would survive, but now she’s fit and well – if a bit hungry.”

Ten members of fire and rescue service used special inflatable rescue packs to secure the unstable ground around Penny and allow them to get to the horse.

Ordinary fire hoses were wrapped under the horse and the rescuers, with help from a tractor, dragged the horse free.