Firefighters rescue runaway horse from stream

According to Bob Mitchell, the watch manager of Red Watch at Newbury Fire Station, two fire engines from Newbury, along with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s animal rescue unit from Caversham Road in Reading and the heavy rescue unit from Tilehurst - a total 20 firefighters - were called at 10.15am, to Donnington Grove Golf and Country Club, off Grove Road, where a grey horse was stranded in a stream.
Mr Mitchell said the horse had escaped from a vets on the nearby Oxford Road: “It got out, and went across the golf course, went through the river and into a stream, which was boggy,” said Mr Mitchell, adding vets were at the scene when they arrived.
Firefighters from the animal rescue unit hauled the horse out of the stream, before leading it back across the river and golf course to the vets.
“It was a tricky rescue as it was cold and boggy and firefighters had to get equipment across the river,” said Mr Mitchell, adding:
“The horse was cold, but otherwise fine, he walked back to the vets.”
Firefighters were at the scene for about one-and-a-half-hours.
Afterwards, Mike Asprey, practice manager for O’ Gorman Slater & Main veterinary surgery, in Oxford Road, would only say: “We would like to thank the emergency services for their assistance in recovering an animal on Monday.”