Shire horse rescued from cattle grid

Police, firefighters and a vet worked for four hours to free the horse

The owners of a young shire horse have thanked emergency services and local supporters after he was rescued from a cattle grid.

Four-year-old Piper, who is 17 hands tall, suffered serious injuries when he got three of his legs trapped in the metal grid and it took four hour to cut him free.

Owner Sara Phillips said it was "horrendous" when she arrived at the scene near Carharrack, Cornwall, on Wednesday 28 August.

"He was very distressed, he was down on his side, with Alice the police officer, she kept him as calm as she could, bless her, but he was thrashing about, which caused quite significant injuries," she said.

Piper has had his wounds bandaged and covered with silver antiseptic spray

Mrs Phillips said: "Three weeks later, I'm still absolutely shaking about it and still quite traumatised about it all."

She said: "We are taking it every day as it comes at the moment because we don't know the extent of anything internal.

"He is just beautiful, he is cheeky, he is a character, everybody loves him."

• Sara Phillips told BBC Radio Cornwall about what happened to Piper

Sara Phillips with one of Piper's get well cards

Firefighters from Tolvaddon Community Fire Station were joined by the police, local vets and Sara's husband Symeon for the rescue operation, which involved sedating the horse and cutting his legs free from the cattle grid with crash rescue tools.

The horse suffered severe gashes to his legs, face and body and cracked a front tooth, which requires specialist attention.

The couple have started an online appeal to cover the bills.

Piper has had his cracked front tooth filled with a special filler

Mrs Phillips said she was grateful to everyone who had shown support, as well as the emergency teams who helped him.