WHITE Lodge Equine Clinic in Minehead provided the perfect venue for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to stage a training evening in horse rescue, which doubled up as an informative and entertaining demonstration for local horse owners.

The specialist animal rescue team from Bridgwater brought their dummy horse "Dobbin" with them and quickly set to work showing how to safely help a collapsed horse from a trailer.

The crew from Minehead fire station and assembled crowd were impressed with the array of equipment specifically designed to assist with safe rescues.

Dobbin was then lowered into a pond and the firefighters demonstrated how to attach a harness whilst avoiding the horse's legs and then hoisted him out of the water, ably assisted by agricultural contractor Paul Sawatzki who kindly provided a telehandler and donated his time for the evening.

The Bridgwater team stressed that this is a taxpayer funded service which provides animal rescue free of charge to the owner of animals in distress.

White Lodge Equine Clinic have vets who have also attended extra training to assist the fire service in their endeavours and are on the BEVA, British Equine Veterinary Association, list of approved vets for this purpose.