Pony rescued after ‘freak’ fall into ditch

By Jack Fifield

A pony that slipped and fell before landing upside down in a ditch had to be sedated and rescued with a telehandler.

Photos show Blackberry the pony, aged 12, being lifted out of a ditch by firefighters on a farm in Baldrine, Isle of Man, on Tuesday, Sept. 9.

The entrapped equine had to be sedated by a local vet, while firefighters borrowed a large telehandler from a local farmer – a cross between a crane and a forklift – to lift the animal out of the ditch.

Showjumping coach Michelle Hargreaves, 67, said it was the first time any incident had happened on her land, where she owns 25 horses, including Blackberry.

Michelle said: “I’ve been involved with horses all my life, and my mother before that.

“The land has been grazed for the last 75 years, and we’ve never had any incident at all.

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“It was just a freak accident – because there was so much foliage she was just mooching about and fell over the edge.

“She wasn’t at all concerned; she’d been lightly sedated by the vet.

“The vet said she was taking it all very well.”

Michelle said she blames this year’s weather for weeds growing faster and taller, despite grass growth slowing down – leading to the accident.

The horse owner said Blackberry is now in good spirits and hanging out with her friends.

She added: “She’s fine, she’s out with her friends.

“Nothing’s happened, she’s remarkable, to be honest.”

In a post on Facebook, the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue service said: “With the assistance of the owner, a vet from Milan Veterinary Practice and a kind farmer with a telehandler, Blackberry the pony was safely recovered from the ditch.

“A great team effort all round! Crews were on scene for approximately 1 hour.”