Fire crews rescue Ben the horse from water-filled ditch in Hardley

A HORSE had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming stuck in a water-filled ditch at a field in Hardley.

The alarm was raised shortly before 11am yesterday (Tuesday) after the 25-year-old cob got into difficulty off New Road.

A vet sedated the animal, named Ben, before fire crews from Hardley, Lyndhurst and Winchester got to work freeing him by digging around the ditch and then pulling him out with strops.

The rescue operation, which was carried out in liaison with the horse’s owner, was successfully completed within two hours.

Ben was left in the care of the owner and vet.

A tweet by the Winchester team said: “Ben the 25-year-old Cob thought he'd have a play in the mud this morning.

“Luckily [crews] were there to give him a helping hand out of the mess he'd got himself into!

“Back on his feet and walking around as crews finished at the scene.”