A TRAINING session in horse rescue was held for Minehead fire crew – watched by interested onlookers – at White Lodge Equine Clinic in Ellicombe.

The specialist animal rescue team from Bridgwater brought their dummy horse ‘Dobbin’ and set to work showing how to help a collapsed horse from a trailer safely.

Dobbin was then lowered into a pond and the firefighters demonstrated how to attach a harness while avoiding the horse’s legs.

They then hoisted him out of the water, assisted by agricultural contractor Paul Sawatzki who kindly provided a telehandler.

The Bridgwater team stressed that this is a taxpayer funded service which provides animal rescue free of charge to the owner of animals in distress.

White Lodge Equine Clinic has vets who have also attended extra training to assist the fire service in their endeavours and are on the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) list of approved vets for this purpose.