Most stories of animals coming to a human’s rescue involve dogs. This one involves two Shire horses on a farm near Bath, in Somerset, and a moment that left their owners stunned: a stallion named Beau helped his stablemate Beatrice get back on her feet when people couldn’t.
A Mare Down On The Stable Floor
On the morning of January 19, 2018, owner Donald MacIntyre found the Shire mare Beatrice stuck on her stable floor at around 8:30 a.m., according to Horse & Hound. He called the vet right away. Beatrice was around 16 years old, and her companion Beau was about 11.
Accounts describe the problem differently. Horse & Hound says Beatrice had become “cast,” meaning she was stuck on the floor and unable to get up. Other coverage, including reports carried by the Daily Mail, describes her as suffering from colic, a painful and potentially life-threatening abdominal condition in horses.
Why A Horse Staying Down Is An Emergency
A horse can’t safely stay on the ground for long. A large animal’s body weight can strain her breathing and circulation, and the longer she is down, the greater the risk of serious complications. Beatrice weighed roughly a tonne.
Horse & Hound reported that her temperature dropped and her heart rate rose as the owners spent about four hours trying to get her up. Other accounts put the effort at around six hours. By then, according to the reports, her owners, Donald and his wife Jane Lipington, were preparing to make the hardest decision. One account says they were about 20 minutes from having her put down.
Beau Steps In
Beau had been in the next stable, quietly watching. When Jane went to let him out for some haylage, he didn’t head for the food as he normally would. Instead, he walked straight to Beatrice, put his head over the partition and started nibbling at her neck and ears, Jane told Horse & Hound.
Different outlets give different details on how long it took. One Italian report says he nipped and shook her neck for around twenty minutes without stopping, while a French account says it took about ten minutes. All of them agree on the result: Beatrice began to stir, and then got to her feet, with help from her owners, who walked her out into the yard.
“We couldn’t have got her out alive without Beau,” Jane told the magazine.
Recovery And A Hero’s Award
Beatrice recovered, and Horse & Hound reported that she and Beau later had a healthy colt named Angus. In September 2018, Beau was named Animal Hero of the Year at the national Animal Hero Awards in London, according to the magazine’s coverage of the ceremony. The ceremony was hosted by Amanda Holden.
According to Cavallo Magazine, the pair live with 21 other Shire horses at the family’s farm.
What Might Explain It
Horses are herd animals with strong social ties, and stablemates often show clear signs of attachment. Why Beau acted as he did can’t be known for sure. Jane herself put it simply: for whatever reason, she said, Beau just seemed to know that Beatrice had to get off the floor. Scientists generally caution against assuming that animals share human motives, but the owners saw his behavior as a deliberate attempt to help.
If Your Horse Goes Down
Anyone who finds a horse down in the stable should call a vet immediately. Don’t put yourself at risk, since a thrashing horse can injure people. A vet can advise on the safest way to help and whether the animal needs treatment for colic or another condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did this happen? At a farm near Bath, in Somerset, England.
What happened to Beatrice? She was found unable to get up in her stable. Horse & Hound describes her as cast, while other reports mention colic.
How did Beau help? He nibbled at her neck and ears over the stable partition, and within minutes she rose to her feet.
How long was Beatrice down? Accounts vary between about four and six hours.
Did Beatrice survive? Yes. She recovered, and she and Beau later had a colt named Angus.
Did Beau win an award? Yes. He was named Animal Hero of the Year at the 2018 Animal Hero Awards.
Sources: Horse & Hound, Cavallo Magazine, Le Tribunal du Net, Comprerural (citing the Daily Mail), and The Telegraph.
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