FIREFIGHTERS took the reins when a horse fell in the South Yorkshire Navigation Canal at Mexborough.
Officers from Edlington station, who are water rescued trained, ran two canvas straps under the animal and hauled it out. The horse, which belongs to travellers living near Pastures Bridge, Mexborough, had fallen in 200m away.
Its owner had then walked it along to a shallow section in the hope it would be able to climb out. When that failed he called the fire brigade.
Watch manager Andy Hawley said that after 45 minutes in the water the horse was cold but otherwise unhurt following the successful rescue on Saturday afternoon.
He added: "We had several people hauling and it was enough for it to get a bit of a foothold on the bank. It was shivering and was taken back to its stables to warm up. The operation went very well, the owner was more than pleased."
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