Trapped horses put down after New Forest rescues by firefighters

TWO trapped horses had to be put down after being rescued by firefighters in the New Forest at the weekend.

The first call-out was to a shire cobb that had fallen into a ditch on Vaggs Lane in Hordle around 8.30am on Saturday.

Crews from New Milton, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Eastleigh cleared trees and foliage surrounding the 13-year-old, 16-hands animal as a vet sedated it.

They then lifted it out using specialist equipment in a three-hour operation. However, it had to be euthanised by the vet.

Shortly after 10am the following morning, there was a call to a horse trapped in a bridge on Northgate Lane in Beaulieu.

A local vet sedated the 23-year-old animal before crews from the village, Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst, Hythe and Hardley released it with specialist rescue gear.

Water rescue teams assisted to ensure the rescuers’ safety during the operation, which took about three-and-a-half hours.

The bridge and road were also closed and Forestry England informed.

Sadly, the horse also had to be put to sleep by the vet.