‘Everyone was so emotional when Matilda was rescued’
TEARS were shed when Matilda the 40-year-old mare was safely pulled out of a muddy dam after a nerve wracking rescue at Marsden Park this week.
Rouse Hill
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TEARS were shed when Matilda the 40-year-old mare was safely pulled out of a muddy dam after a nerve-racking rescue at Marsden Park on Monday.
Owners Karen and Katie Lodge said if not for the amazing work by Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS and SES crews, together with Hawkesbury Equine Veterinary Centre vet Dr Dr Kylie Hardwicke, their much loved pet would have not survived her more than three-hour ordeal.
Emergency crews found Matilda on her side, submerged in water, with only her head above the surface, beneath a steep and slippery embankment. She was slowly hauled out in a very delicate operation after a mild sedation to calm her.
This is the second horse rescue in a month for the emergency crews in the area, with Moose being saved from a watery grave at Riverstone on Australia Day.
Fire and Rescue NSW’s Duty Commander Western Sydney, Inspector Kernin Lambert, praised the dedication of the crews and vet involved, saying the Blacktown crews had just fought a four-hour industrial fire three km away.
“Even the most straight forward horses rescue are difficult and potentially quite hazardous for the trapped horse and for those attempting the rescue.”
“Everyone was so emotional and we cried when Matilda was rescued because we were told she might not make it because of her age,” Mrs Lodge told the Rouse Hill Times.
“Matilda has been with us for 15 years after a lady, who won her at a raffle, did not know what to do with her and sold her to us for $200.
“Matilda used to be very popular at Blacktown Pony Club because she was so gentle and my daughter Katie has ridden her when she was younger.”
Mrs Lodge said her daughter had noticed their 400kg and 13 hand mare was missing when was getting ready to leave for work that afternoon and was in a panic when she saw Matilda in the dam.
“Matilda, who I think is quite a forgetful horse due to her age, wandered out to the dam just outside our home and then got stuck because it is quite muddy and was like quicksand” Mrs Lodge said.
“Katie was devastated and had to hold Matilda’s head above the water but she herself got stuck because of the quicksand.
“I called the emergency services and they were so great and we can’t thank them and the vet enough for saving Matilda.
“Everyone was very emotional when Matilda finally came out.
“She seems well and recovered the next day when Katie gave her a bath.”
Dr Kylie Hardwicke said while horse rescues like this not unusual, Matilda was a special case because she had been had been in the water for more than three hours and was also old.
“Fortunately the SES crew are trained for these rescues and have the right equipment,” Dr Hardwicke said.
“We had to work in knee deep mud and it was very difficult because Matilda could have also got hypothermia for being the water for so long.
“It took us about one hour to get Matilda out and we had to make the safety equipment was carefully put on her.”
Fire and Rescue NSW’s Duty Commander Western Sydney, Inspector Kernin Lambert, said they enlisted the help of crews from Blacktown and Ashfield — who were fortunately both helping out at nearby Riverstone — to the site at 3.40pm on Monday.
He said it was a potentially dangerous rescue, given Matilda’s fragile state and the slippery conditions.
“Realising specialised equine rescue equipment would most likely be required, firefighters requested the attendance of Hawkesbury SES, who are equipped with the highly specialised horse rescue gear necessary to safely retrieve a horse from water.” Insp Lambert said.
“Specialist local equine vet, Dr Kylie Hardwicke was also called to the scene, along with Local Rural Fire Service crews from Marsden Park and Londonderry.
“Tilly was located on her side, submerged in water, with only her head above the water’s surface, which was located beneath a steep and slippery embankment.
“The very soft mud base of the dam could not provide a solid footing for the horse and there was absolutely no way she was going to be able to get free from the water herself.
“Tilly was extremely fragile because of her age, compounding the situation.
“At this time, it was extremely important that Tilly was kept as calm as possible, to minimise injury and a worsening of her situation, until further rescue equipment and Dr Hardwicke arrived on scene.
“The Blacktown rescue crew worked closely with Hawkesbury SES rescue operators David King and Kevin Jones (both very experienced horse rescuers) and Dr Hardwicke to carry out the very difficult, delicate rescue.”
Insp Lambert said crews initially used ropes attached to the horse bridle, to ensure the mare’s head remained above water, because she was tiring.
“Dr Hardwicke gave a Tilly a very light sedation, to help her remain calm and not become distressed,” Insp Lambert said.
“Blacktown rescue senior firefighter Mark Ellam entered the water and working with Hawkesbury SES operator David King, began to place rescue slings under Tilly’s legs and around her body.
“This was an extremely delicate part of the rescue, as the equipment had to be positioned precisely around the horse, if the rescue was to be a success; it was also the most hazardous time for the rescue crew, working in water, in the event that the horse became distressed.
“The rescue slings were then connected to ropes and a haul party, consisting of Fire and Rescue and RFS firefighters, began to slowly pull on the ropes, carefully releasing Tilly from the water.
“As soon as Tilly was out of the water, she was placed onto a hard plastic board known as a horse glide and removed to an area of safety away from the water’s edge.
“After several minutes, Tilly began to recover from sedation and was on her feet, where she was led to a secure paddock for further assessment and treatment from Dr Hardwicke.
”The rescue crews and veterinarian Dr Hardwicke showed enormous levels of dedication, care and commitment throughout the rescue to free Tilly.”
“Incredibly, the Blacktown rescue crews had just spent four hours fighting an intense and protracted industrial fire only three km from the scene of the rescue.
“Even the most straight forward horses rescue are difficult and potentially quite hazardous for the trapped horse and for those attempting the rescue.”