Three Shire horses saved from bog

The horses were unhurt (picture from Hampshire Fire Service) Enlarge Image

Three Shire horses were rescued by firefighters after they became stuck in a bog in Hampshire.

The animals' owner John Wilson had gone to check on the horses in Vine Road, Sherborne Saint John, Basingstoke, on Tuesday evening.

He saw that Lady, Dainty and Lorraine had managed to venture out of their usual field and into a bogged area.

A vet sedated the horses before specialist fire officers worked for four hours to free the horses unharmed.

Mr Wilson said "My horses have been in this field for years and they have never ventured out.

'Arduous rescue'

"Something seems to have spooked the horses causing them to flee their field into the boggy area."

A total of 18 firefighters and animal rescue officers were involved in pulling the animals free from the bog, a fire service spokeswoman said.

She said the way the horses' legs were positioned meant that mechanical devices could not be used.

"The strength and stamina of these animals is extreme and they are designed to pull large machinery such as ploughs and heavy carts," the spokeswoman added.

"These horses were helpless during this incident and it took the strength and stamina of the fire crews to rescue them."

Watch manager Jim Green, an animal rescue specialist, said "This was one of the most arduous and difficult rescues that the animal rescue specialist team are likely to encounter throughout their career.

"We are extremely pleased with the successful rescue of these uninjured Shire horses."