Firefighters rescue Puddles the pony from neck-high mud
The RSPCA said the 3ft 8in animal was ‘very lucky to have been spotted’.
A “lucky” pony was rescued from a deep ditch where she was stuck neck-high in mud – with only her ears still clean.
The little Welsh pony, named Puddles by rescuers, is thought to have been trapped in the ditch in Grays, Essex, for days before she was spotted by a member of the public.
She was winched to safety by Essex Fire and Rescue Service and RSPCA officers on Saturday.
She is not microchipped.
RSPCA inspector Caroline Richardson said: “It’s amazing that she was spotted as she was absolutely covered head to toe in mud and was neck-high in muddy water.
“It’s total chance that she was found and she was very lucky to have been spotted.
“She was freezing cold, shivering and clearly exhausted.
“We believe she may have been stuck in the ditch for days and, with the weather having turned so cold and wet, I don’t think she’d have survived much longer.
“She’s a very lucky little pony.”
Ms Richardson said that if the pony’s owners are not found she will be rehomed.
Anyone who recognises Puddles or believes her to belong to them is asked to call the RSPCA’s appeal line on 0300 123 8018.
