Horse lucky to be alive after becoming trapped in cattle grid

[Mr_Ed]

A 16-hand Welsh Cob cross Shire and Hanoverian horse is lucky to be alive after becoming trapped in a cattle grid in the New Forest. 12-year-old Flash Gordon was being ridden by his owner along a forest road, near Brockenhurst on Monday, December 31. As they tried to negotiate a cattle grid so Gordon stumbled and fell, lodging his front hooves firmly in the grid. His hooves were too large to manipulate out and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to assist, along with their specialist Rural Safety Officer, Jim Green.

Read more and see pictures at www.ridingsafely.net/september_october_2007_news.html#rescue311207

 

[gloster_image]

Poor horse so lucky to get out of it alive and unhurt.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but was she trying to ride the horse over the cattle grid???

 

[merlinsquest]

Sounds like it, but surely no one would be that stupid???

 

[gloster_image]

That's what I was thinking!!

 

[merlinsquest]

I would think you would avoid a cattle grid, not negotiate it

I certainly steer clear of the ones where I hack just incase they get me!!!

 

[gloster_image]

Yeh, surely its just asking for trouble walking across a cattle grid?!?! Unless they were trying to walk down the side of it and the horse slipped but from the pictures there doesn't appear to be any room either side of it?

 

[k9h]

From the pictures it looks ofr like his back legs that went down as they are cut & have had shoes removed???
I do hope it was an accident & not rider error

 

[loobylu]

Well done to the firemen. Sounds like an awful outcome swiftly avoided.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Thanks for that, we are trying to stop our local commons being infested with cattle grids right now so this is very helpful info though obv. I wish it never occurred.

 

[Donkeymad]

Poor Flash, glad he's not seriously injured. That apears to be a gateway beside the grid though.(I must be missing something here

)

 

[Pedantic]

Thank goodness he was allright, I passed one on an endurance ride yesterday only feet away, thing is if your horse spooks it could happen to any of us, maybe they aint a good idea next to a bridleway.

 

[Fantasy_World]

I know I shouldn't really say this lol but coining a phrase from the film, " Gordon's alive!"
Seriously though now I am glad to hear the horse was rescued safely and full marks go to all concerned in getting the animal out relatively unscathed. He was a very, very lucky horse. Also have to say he is a good looker too and I can see why he was called Flash.
Nice story to read with a happy ending after so many terrible tales on the lead up to and straight after Christmas

Caroline

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

as someone else mentions above, the council want to introduce cattle grids to my local common. as the common is opposite my yard this would mean a cattle grid 10 feet away from my field gate.

i am not impressed. think i may have to forward the article to my ocal council

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

That is one lucky horse. My poor Marsden didnt survive getting stuck in a cattle grid and reading this brings back awful memories

 

[PennyJ]

No it was his FRONT hooves that got stuck in the cattle grid.

Basically the gate is right alongside the cattle grid, the horse stumbled/slipped (probably on leaves) whilst they were trying to get the gate open and his front hooves got wedged in the grid. Some of these gates can be quite hard to open and this one is a bit off the beaten track as it were and probably doesn't get a lot of use.

My mum and dad happened to be driving past where all this was taking place whilst it was in progress. Quite a big hullaballoo apparently. Just glad that the horse will recover from this.

 

[ISHmad]

Thank goodness that the horse was rescued safely. Must have been absolutely terrifying for both horse and rider.

 

[lizzylulu]

So glad that there was a happy ending here!

 

[MissMoo]

Glad he's ok

 

[SunshineTallulah]

Glad he is ok.

We have cattle grids on our common and the gates are right next to them...... one is fenced off, but some idiot drove into the fence, so now its exposed......

Just have to be mega mega careful and luckily the gate opening is away from the grid.

Scary Mary are what cattle grids are.

 

[PennyJ]

The ending is not necessarily that happy...

One of Peter Bulkely's daughters rides my friend's horse. Flash Gordon has gone to Liphook where he had an operation today to remove a bone chip. I hope he does get over this in time.

There have been complaints about the stiffness of the gate in question for over 3 years from both riders and walkers, but Hampshire County Council have not done anything about it.

They chose not to insure Flash Gordon as he is one of several horses they have, and are having to meet all vets bills themselves although they are considering a claim on Hampshire CC

 

[KatB]

Hmm, cattle grids are horrible horrible things, and one of the most horrific things I have ever seen was a horse go down one. unfortunately he didnt survive. fingers crossed for a full recovery for Flash.