It seems like I’ve hardly been in bed above five minutes when my little noisy companion kicks off – that’s my alerter and not the present Mrs. C.

Sluggishly I get dressed, really not wanting this at all and jog up the road softly effing and blinding to myself.

Blue Watch, with only a crew of four, have mobilised to a horse stuck in a ditch at Camps Heath, about three miles from the station. The Unimog is required too and goes mobile with a retained crew of Mel Buck and Ben Horne.

The rest of us plonk ourselves down expecting a long wait. But, by now, Ladder 1 has arrived at the incident and its obvious they’ll need a bit more muscle… So the bells go for Ladder 2 and, with a cheery wave, we wish them well as they head for the entombed horse.

However, our smugness doesn’t last as the bells toll again, this time for the ERT. Very audible effing and blinding now… That’s our cue to head off towards Camps Heath.

We arrive at Dairy Farm and can see, in the distance, the lights surrounding the spot where the horse is stuck. More lighting is taken from the ERT as well as a host of other gear that may come in useful for unsticking the horse.

Mel and Dennis try to find a safe route for the Unimog to get across the muddy pasture / marsh and decide to give it a go. Mel reversed the Unimog through the gateway but, almost immediately, the drivers side started to sink rapidly into the soft ground. It was now the case of rescuing the Mog as well as the horse!
We attached the winch cable from the front of the Unimog to the front of Ladder 2 and Mel was able to winch himself back on to a firmer footing.

The only option open to us now was a manual extrication. A line was tied around the horse’s neck and around 12 of us set to in giving gentle but firm pulls. A change of direction saw the horse start to come free of the mud and eventually fully clear. She looked and sounded in a sorry state – laying very still and snorting quietly. She was given a few minutes to regain her composure as we started to make up all or gear. And a short rest was all Shannon needed. I could see her and her stable mate being led across the muddy ground towards the farm, with Shannon not looking too worse for wear.

And that was that. Back to Normanshurst to clean all the gear and head off home – over two hours after being so rudely awakened…

– IAN CARTER (www.accessiblewebsites.co.uk)