Why the long face? Pony is rescued from neck-deep mud after firemen battle for hours to pull it out of ditch

  • The pony was spotted by Aisha Newcombe when walking her dog in Kent
  • She searched for rope to try and pull the distressed pony out but had no luck
  • When a rescue crew arrived they pull the pony sideways onto the bank

By CHARLOTTE DEAN, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Firemen battled for hours to save a distressed pony who was stuck up to its neck in a muddy ditch in Kent.

Aisha Newcombe who was walking her dog at the time spotted the pony trapped in the dirty marshes looking tired with its head rested on the bank.

The 37-year-old searched for a piece of rope or something to help pull the pony out but after having no luck decided to call for help.  

Firemen battled for hours to save a distressed pony who was stuck up to its neck in a muddy ditch in Kent

Firemen battled for hours to save a distressed pony who was stuck up to its neck in a muddy ditch in Kent

Animal Rescue firefighters rushed to the scene but were delayed by the remote location which meant crews had to travel two miles on foot through the marshland.

Quick-thinking Aisha filmed the pony and passed the footage onto the crew who could assess the situation, which helped them to work out what kit to carry and how to pull the stricken animal to safety.

Crews attached a head harness and used strops and ropes to pull the pony sideways onto the bank on Queens Farm Road in Gravesend, Kent.

They then helped to warm the pony with foil blankets and supported it into a standing position to promote recovery.

Aisha said: 'I was walking my two dogs with a friend when we spotted the horse struggling in water up to its neck. It looked very tired and was resting its head on the bank. We knew we had to do something.

Crews attached a head harness and used strops and ropes to pull the pony sideways onto the bank

Crews attached a head harness and used strops and ropes to pull the pony sideways onto the bank

'We tried to help in any way we could, searching for something to help pull it out like a piece of rope, but I decided we had to call for help if the pony was going to survive.

'I filmed the horse on my phone and showed it to the crew when they arrived.

'I'm so pleased they managed to save the horse, I can't thank the people from Kent Fire and Rescue enough.'

The RSPCA arrived shortly after the rescue last Tuesday between 12 noon and 4.30pm and a nearby farmer has since adopted the pony.

Mark Gosling, a Kent Fire and Rescue Service station manager who was overseeing the rescue, said: 'This was logistically a very tricky rescue with the pony being around two miles from the nearest road.

'The phone video proved to be incredibly valuable, giving us a preview of what to expect.

'It meant we could decide what equipment we needed to take with us, saving time and energy to focus on saving the animal.

'We work closely with the RSPCA and where there is a risk to life we will respond.

'I'm pleased to say it was a successful rescue and the pony is now doing well in the care of a farmer.'

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