Rescue operation for racing horse trapped in ditch in Ruovesi, Finland

A significant rescue operation took place on Tuesday evening in Ruovesi, Pirkanmaa, when a racing horse became disoriented during a training session and ended up on its back in a roadside drainage ditch. The driver of the cart managed to escape from the ditch.

When the rescue services arrived at the scene, the horse was still in the ditch, trapped and on its back, with the cart attached to it. Rescuers detached the cart before digging out soil from the edge of the ditch, allowing the horse to be repositioned onto its side and into a better posture.

The rescue service reported that the horse’s thermal well-being was monitored using blankets and heat packs. Additional soil was removed from beside the horse, enabling it to stand up with assistance. A veterinarian examined the horse, which had sustained minor injuries, while the driver was unharmed in the incident.

The Pirkanmaa rescue service received the alarm at around 9:30 PM regarding the situation on Siikalahdentie in Ruovesi. The operation involved members from the Muroleen volunteer fire department, the Kurun hybrid unit, and a specialized animal rescue team from Teivo, equipped with the necessary tools for the rescue.