Horses safe as flood levels recede on Taieri

THE North Taieri equine community is in cleanup mode following the weekend’s heavy flooding.

Water lapped at stable doors as floodwaters rose on Friday night, while horses outside sought the highest and most sheltered ground they could find in their paddocks.

The flooding has affected several equine properties in the area including Arianna Thijssen’s Splendid Horse Equestrian in North Taieri.

Rising floodwaters crept into her stables and through paddocks, meaning her four horses had to be evacuated, she said.

‘‘To get to the horses we were wading up to our waists.

‘‘It was a bit scary, but [the horses] are out and safe now.’’

With levels abating, yesterday, the main focus now was on the damage the flooding had done to her paddocks and stable.

‘‘We have about a foot of silt over the property and I am not going to be able to put horses on it, for I’m not sure how long.’’

Neighbouring standardbred trainer Craig Buchan also had floodwaters creep into his stable.

‘‘We had a bit of water come through the barn, but the horses still had plenty of room.’’

Buchan’s training track was under water yesterday, but he was confident he would be able to resume working his team today.

Buchan’s house was worse off, with his garage flooding badly, he said.

Thijssen, who works at White Robe Lodge, praised her employers for helping coordinate her equine rescue mission.

The flooding had not had a big effect on White Robe Lodge, Shane Anderton said.

Horses’ training regimes were interrupted on Saturday, but they quickly returned to normal, he said.

Wingatui trainer Terry Kennedy’s stable faced similar circumstances.

His team could not gallop on the Wingatui racecourse on Saturday, but expected his horses to resume their normal training regimes soon.

Course manager Wayne Stevens confirmed the

Wingatui racecourse’s grass tracks had had flooding in places, although that water was quickly abating.

With horses being able to work on the course’s sand training track he expected normal training regimes to resume this morning.