One sick pony but owner knew what to do when Chico swallowed a bee

Life-saving owner pours buckets of water over stricken animal

Chico’s tongue also swelled up and was blocking his airway, threatening to suffocate him.

Patricia immediately recognised his symptoms – she once had a pet dog die after an allergic reaction to a bee sting.

She called a vet and spent two hours pouring buckets of cool water on him, which brought his temperature out of the critical zone.

Patricia added: “His tongue was so swollen, it was stopping the air way. His temperature was through the roof. It’s so fortunate I recognised the symptoms and knew what to do.

“Everyone has a soft spot for Chico as he taught riders from novice to advanced when I ran a riding school. And he’s a wonderful nanny to the foal.”

Chico was closely monitored after his brush with death to check that his temperature had not crept back up.

He would have been rushed to the Weipers Centre Equine Hospital in Glasgow if his condition had deteriorated.

Anaphylactic shock is very rare in horses, and is more commonly triggered by a reaction to medication.