Horse stuck on wall in freak accident

Firefighters were called to assist a horse that became stuck on a dyke in Angus yesterday morning.

The horse became spooked when it heard a van as it was crossing a road and reversed on to the wall as it was carrying its rider.

One heavy rescue pump from Forfar and a heavy rescue unit and a rescue pump from Dundee were called to Shandford Farm, Fern, at 11.11am.

The animal was removed from the wall with the use of an animal sling and a telescopic fork lift.

It was then laid into a field and passed into the care of vets.

Vet Nienke Oostra from Thrums Veterinary Group in Kirriemuir attended the incident. She said: “The horse is very stiff but it just has some soft tissue damage and a few small cuts.

“It’s a freak accident. A van came along the road but turned off its engine to allow the horse to pass.

“However, the noise from the engine turning off spooked the horse and it went backwards over the wall.

“Thankfully its rider was also unhurt.”

Grant Nicoll, manager at Forfar Fire Station, described the rescue effort.

He said: “The horse was straddling a stone dyke. Its upper body and head were on the verge of a roadway and its lower half was over the wall dangling into a field below.

“We mobilised a heavy rescue unit from Dundee which carries animal rescue straps.”

The horse was sedated before the rescue began.