A horse has been rescued by firefighters after falling into an eight-foot ditch.
Jess Jaremczuk was riding her grey mare, Opal, along fields in Carrington, Greater Manchester, last Saturday (8 August).
Opal was spooked by a dog and fell backwards into a ditch.
Ms Jarmczuk tried to help Opal escape but the Arab cross became distressed and struggled to get out.
“It was so traumatic,” she told local press.
“I could have been killed and [Opal] could have died.
“We just fell straight down into it onto thorn bushes and mud.
“I came off and saw her tumbling down and thought she was going to land on me.”
A vet sedated Opal and firefighters from Eccles, Heywood and Sale used straps and boards to drag the mare to safety.
It took crews over three hours to rescue Opal, who is now recovering from injuries to her back and hind legs.
“[The firefighters] were all fantastic. I just know she would not be alive if it wasn’t for them,” added Ms Jarmczuk.
A spokesman from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 5.40pm on Saturday to Elmwood in Sale.
| Popular articles |
“A horse was stuck in a ditch and crews helped it out.”
Road safety
Last month (15 July) horseandhound.co.uk reported that a rider and her horse had fallen into a ditch in Finchampstead.
Jenny Sambrook was out hacking her 15hh Connemara cross, Pearl, when a large lorry came past.
Pearl spooked and the pair fell into a large ditch.
Thankfully both Ms Sambrook and Pearl escaped without suffering any serious injuries.
Ms Sambrook is now calling for drivers to take greater care around horses.