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| Shire horse owners elated after rescue in Devon | Shire horse owners elated after rescue in Devon |
| (3 months later) | |
| Emma Crowe called Ben a "big gentle giant" and is hopeful he will make a full recovery | Emma Crowe called Ben a "big gentle giant" and is hopeful he will make a full recovery |
| The owners of a large shire horse who became trapped in a ditch have spoken of their "complete elation" to watch him being successfully rescued. | The owners of a large shire horse who became trapped in a ditch have spoken of their "complete elation" to watch him being successfully rescued. |
| Ben got stuck in a deep ditch at Ashwater in Devon last week. | Ben got stuck in a deep ditch at Ashwater in Devon last week. |
| He was lifted by a specialist fire rescue team using a telehandler, and a vet was also on hand. | He was lifted by a specialist fire rescue team using a telehandler, and a vet was also on hand. |
| Owner Emma Crowe said there were "quite a few teary eyes, and everyone was smiling when he was standing there eating grass [afterwards]". | Owner Emma Crowe said there were "quite a few teary eyes, and everyone was smiling when he was standing there eating grass [afterwards]". |
| Fire crews received the call for assistance on Wednesday 15 February | Fire crews received the call for assistance on Wednesday 15 February |
| After being lifted to safety, seven-year-old Ben immediately started to munch on grass as he was so hungry. | After being lifted to safety, seven-year-old Ben immediately started to munch on grass as he was so hungry. |
| Ms Crowe said: "He is just such a lovely horse; but also you build a bond and feel connected with the horse ... if I could have him in the house, I would". | Ms Crowe said: "He is just such a lovely horse; but also you build a bond and feel connected with the horse ... if I could have him in the house, I would". |
| After initially calling the vet for her "big gentle giant", they called 999 and said the response was "incredible". | After initially calling the vet for her "big gentle giant", they called 999 and said the response was "incredible". |
| Fire crews quickly attended, followed by a specialist animal rescue team with a telehandler. | Fire crews quickly attended, followed by a specialist animal rescue team with a telehandler. |
| The horse measures 19 hands tall (6ft 4in) to its withers - which is the bottom of its neck | The horse measures 19 hands tall (6ft 4in) to its withers - which is the bottom of its neck |
| She said: "He is such a character and seeing him laying helplessly in the ditch and vulnerable was devastating. | She said: "He is such a character and seeing him laying helplessly in the ditch and vulnerable was devastating. |
| "There was a massive sigh of relief when he actually took weight onto his legs and just stood there. | "There was a massive sigh of relief when he actually took weight onto his legs and just stood there. |
| "There wasn't one person who wasn't slightly emotional about the whole thing. I can't explain it. | "There wasn't one person who wasn't slightly emotional about the whole thing. I can't explain it. |
| "It was just complete elation and just standing here with him now like this is amazing." | "It was just complete elation and just standing here with him now like this is amazing." |
| Ben is being kept indoors at the farm for the time being, along with some lambs | Ben is being kept indoors at the farm for the time being, along with some lambs |
| Trevor Heath initially found Ben in the ditch when he went out to give him his morning feed, and said "for a big horse he looked tiny - it was awful." | Trevor Heath initially found Ben in the ditch when he went out to give him his morning feed, and said "for a big horse he looked tiny - it was awful." |
| He said they were relieved that Ben was not badly injured but he was still "a little bit sore". | He said they were relieved that Ben was not badly injured but he was still "a little bit sore". |
| "It is going to be a lot of TLC over the next few weeks. | "It is going to be a lot of TLC over the next few weeks. |
| "But, together with us and an amazing vet Zoe Marsh, we are hoping he is going to make a full recovery," he said. | "But, together with us and an amazing vet Zoe Marsh, we are hoping he is going to make a full recovery," he said. |
| Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC News South West on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Ashwater | Ashwater |
| Horses | Horses |
| Devon | |
| Animals | Animals |
| Barnstaple | Barnstaple |