JD the horse cheats death in Boyne rescue operation

By Eoin Reynolds, Drogheda Independent - Friday February 25th 2005

SARAH Lappin and her horse JD are grateful for the dedication of the Boyne Fishermen Rescue and Recovery Service who prevented a tragedy on the river this week.

A mission to save the horse became a mammoth task on Sunday afternoon as the rescue service, about 20 helpful bystanders and a vet who happened to be in the area became involved.

The rescue team, who spent four hours in the water with JD, became true heroes in Sarah’s eyes when the horse finally made it to dry land and struggled to his feet.

Sarah was out horse riding along the Boyne on Sunday afternoon when she took a wrong turn at the Oldbridge Estate. She found herself on marshy land and JD began to panic.

As his legs sank he started to kick, throwing Sarah out of the saddle but away to safety. However, as she looked on in horror, the horse stumbled into the freezing river.

Sarah was carrying a mobile phone and she called the emergency services. Michael Hodgins and the rest of the crew of the BFRRS reacted immediately and gauged where she was from a description she gave of the surrounding scenery.

Fighting the strong currents and the cold, the horse was exhausted and finding it difficult to stay afloat by the time they arrived. The rescue men held his head above the water and tried to calm him.

Before long, a small crowd had gathered on the bank, eager to help with the rescue mission. Farmers with tractors and even a vet happened to be among them. She administered some shots to keep the horse from going into spasm and to calm him down.

The horse remained in the water for four hours as the rescue men tried different ways to pull him out.

‘I was panicking,’ said Sarah. ‘I didn’t think he was going to pull through.’ Eventually, at about 6pm on Sunday evening, they steered him to the bank and tied a rope around him.

Five members of the rescue team heaved the horse on to dry land as the exhausted JD fell in and out of consciousness.

‘I was just relieved when they finally got him to ground,’ said Sarah. The vet helped to bring the horse back around but exhausted, he lay on the ground for some time.

‘When I saw him stand up and he started eating grass again, I was delighted,’ said Sarah. The horse is now in an equine hospital, receiving treatment for a leg injury sustained during the ordeal.

Sarah would be mourning the loss of her eight-year-old horse if it weren’t for the work of the BFRRS.

‘It was an amazing effort by the river rescue,’ said Sarah. ‘They were absolutely fantastic and did everything they possibly could do. I just want to thank them so much for what they did.’

© Drogheda Independent