Horse Rescued From Bridge After Four Hour Effort in West Dorset

Firefighters helped rescue a horse that had fallen through a bridge, its back legs trapped. Fire crews from Bridport and a technical rescue team from Weymouth responded to the call.

The Bridport team arrived first, guided by the horse’s owner. The rescue operation took four hours, and rescuers faced multiple challenges due to the difficult location. Standard equipment proved ineffective.

A platform was constructed using hay bales and pallets, and they attempted to pull the horse’s legs upward, hoping it could push itself free. However, the fading light and the horse’s exhaustion hindered their efforts, necessitating a change of plan.

A farmer provided a tele-handler to support the bridge’s rear. Crews cut away the floor supports, aiming to lower the structure and allow the horse to walk out; however, this proved difficult.

As they tried to reposition the horse, it unfortunately fell further down, becoming almost vertical within the structure. Darkness enveloped the scene, prompting the use of floodlights.

The final approach involved dismantling the bridge from behind. Hay bales were placed underneath to create a soft landing. Lifting the dismantled bridge allowed the horse to fall free, landing safely below.

After four hours, the horse was finally free and able to stand. A ramp was created to guide it away, and a vet examination revealed only scrapes and bruises.

The fire service expressed gratitude to all involved, including the farmers, the vet, and the horse’s owners, acknowledging the challenging nature of the incident.