A 19-hands high shire horse needed some helping hands - and machinery - after he became stuck in a ditch in Devon yesterday morning (Wednesday).
On finding the horse, Ben, unable to get up and out of the ditch in Ashwater, the owner called the vet who sedated the horse both for the horse's safety and that of the firefighters that were on their way.
A fire crew from Holsworthy was first on scene which was then joined by the specialist animal rescue team from Barnstaple and a telehandler team from Clyst St George Fire Station.
Firefighters worked with a local farmer and his digger to remove some of the ditch wall so that it was easier to get to Ben.
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They then used specialist rescue equipment and a telehandler to safely remove the shire horse from the ditch.
Ben was checked over by the vet and handed back to is owner.
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