Walmer lifeboat rescues horse after it throws rider and swims out to sea!

[Victoria Sponge]

A HORSE that swam out into the sea off the Sandwich Bay Estate yesterday had to be rescued from the waves by the Walmer inshore lifeboat.

The boat launched shortly after 3.50pm following numerous 999 calls to Dover Coastguard reporting a rider and horse in difficulties in the water near the Sandwich Bay Sailing Club. The conditions were good and the volunteer crew reached the scene in 15 minutes.

They discovered the rider had been thrown from her mount in shallow water and the horse had then swam directly out to sea.

The rider swam out after the horse in an attempt to bring her back to the shore but decided to turn back when she realised she had no chance of catching her.

By the time the lifeboat crew arrived on scene the horse, called Shallimah, was around half a mile offshore and starting to tire.

 

[Alfie168]

Are you sure it hadn't swum from Studland?

Tim

 

[Victoria Sponge]

Are you sure it hadn't swum from Studland?

Tim

It's a good question, I had wondered about that

 

[wotayottie]

A more obvious question is "why bother". There must be some risk to the ILB from a flailing animal, and its not important enough for the slightest risk to human life.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

From what I know, which isn't a lot, they also rescue dogs and see such events as good training exercises.

 

[wotayottie]

Or do they see it as good PR? We are awash in a sea of sentimentality about animals in the UK. People even take wild rabbits and foxes to the vets to get mended for heavens sake.

 

[salinia]

A more obvious question is "why bother". There must be some risk to the ILB from a flailing animal, and its not important enough for the slightest risk to human life.

I suppose its human nature.

 

[Alfie168]

Well speaking personally, and I have lived and grown up in the country all my life around animals of all sizes, there is no excuse for allowing any animal to suffer uneccessarily, so it is wrong to criticise people who take wild rabbits and foxes to vets as they are acting with the best of intentions, and not walking by on the other side. Those with the means might just settle the matter with a shotgun on the spot, and I wouldn't argue with that either. It is quick and ends the suffering.

A fit horse at sea to me is a definitie 'saver' provided the rescue services deem it is OK to have a go. They are pretty good swimmers and often just need guiding back to land.

I'd do it for you Wotayottie....the saving bit I mean....not the shotgun bit

Tim

 

[Lakesailor]

It's actually the "animal hospitals" that are at fault. They should take the vermin in and next day say "It didn't survive" (the needle).

 

[mjcoon]

Are you sure it hadn't swum from Studland?

Oh dear, more references to the sea-horse in danger!

Perhaps this horse ("Shallimah" - rough spelling?) was measured in pale hands?

Of course really pampered horses get hydrotherapy in a circular swimming trough, so they cannot get lost...

Mike.

 

[pendlecats]

Was it not properly kitted out for the swim then?

 

[Victoria Sponge]

Or do they see it as good PR? We are awash in a sea of sentimentality about animals in the UK. People even take wild rabbits and foxes to the vets to get mended for heavens sake.

I see nothing wrong whatsoever in caring about animals. When psychopaths are growing up research shows that one of the very first manifestations of their condition is cruelty to animals.

 

[wotayottie]

No doubt the trick cyclists have equally silly explanations for little girls fondness for ponies. But there is a difference between wanton cruelty and going out of your way,risking life and limb, for a dumb animal.

I'm not of course referring to posters on here when I say "dumb animal".

 

[wotayottie]

I'd do it for you Wotayottie....the saving bit I mean....not the shotgun bit

Tim

And I for you Tim - though I might hesitate about the kiss of life.

 

[taz]

No doubt the trick cyclists have equally silly explanations for little girls fondness for ponies. But there is a difference between wanton cruelty and going out of your way,risking life and limb, for a dumb animal.

I'm not of course referring to posters on here when I say "dumb animal".

What's the difference between a dumb animal and a fisherman, sailor, swimmer etc?.......the dumb animal doesn't know the dangers of the sea

So why do the rescue services risk life and limb for those that should know better(us)? should be the question.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I'm all for caring for dumb animals. So why did the RNLI deprive the fish of all that food?

 

[Norman_E]

It had to be rescued, after all if it had carried on swimming the French would have eaten it!

 

[Victoria Sponge]

No doubt the trick cyclists have equally silly explanations for little girls fondness for ponies. But there is a difference between wanton cruelty and going out of your way,risking life and limb, for a dumb animal.

I'm not of course referring to posters on here when I say "dumb animal".

Cruelty to animals is not an explanation for why people develop into psychopaths, there's just a correlation.

Yes, you're right, wanton cruelty is different to rescuing an animal in distress. However, I would argue that leaving the poor creature to drown, when we have the ability to rescue it, would have been cruel nonetheless.

 

[topline]

As one of the Crew on this service i would like to add a few points.

The first report was to a person and horse in trouble in the sandwich bay area, just after launching the coastguard informed us that the person had made it ashore and the horse was still in difficulty.

If we had left the horse there would be a good chance that the owners and members of the public would try again to rescue the horse and put themselves in danger so the decision was made to save the animal.

At no point was there any danger to the crew as none of us entered the water, at first we tried to shepherd the horse ashore but this did not work so the decision was made to attach a line to the rains and we led it back to shore where she was met by her owners.

 

[sarabande]

good to hear from someone on the front line. Welcome and keep us up to date with other events please.


Respec' !