In 2018, Shire Horse owners Donald MacIntyre and Jane Lipington thought they were going to have to put one of their prized mares, Beatrice, down. Then, the incredible happened: Her stablemate Beau stepped in and saved the dying horse. This story is almost too amazing to believe.
Stable Mate Saves Dying Horse
According to The Telegraph, one morning three years ago, Donald and Jane went into their stable in Langridge near Bath, in the UK, to find their 16-year-old mare Beatrice lying down on the ground. She had suffered from equine colic and severe abdominal pain. Weighing a ton, her legs had given out, and she was struggling to get up. At her weight, it wouldn’t be long before the pressure on her internal organs would be too great, and they would fail.
The couple spent six hours trying to get the horse to stand up. They even brought their friend who has experience with flipping cows to come to help them. Using straps and heavy machinery, the best they could achieve was to turn the dying horse onto her other side. She just wouldn’t stand.
“The vet said it was not looking good. People were standing around crying, and we were thinking of bringing it forward (putting her down).” Donald recalled.
Source: The Daily Mail
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Beau To The Rescue
Beatrice’s stablemate, best friend, and partner Beau, an 11-year-old stallion, watched on throughout the entire ordeal. He didn’t eat anything, just watched the humans attempt to get Beatrice to stand. Finally, about 20 minutes before she was meant to be put down, Donald and Jane remembered that Beau needed to be let out. Instead of going outside, however, he went right into the stall adjacent to Beatrice, stuck his head over the stall wall, and began nipping at her neck.
Beau was nuzzling her, biting at her neck, and pulling at and shaking her halter. To the amazement of everyone in the barn, he lifted her up into a more upright position. Shortly after, the mare was on her feet. Within 10 minutes, she was fully on her feet. The owners quickly walked her outside so she wouldn’t fall again. She ate some hay and has since made a full recovery.
“In six hours we couldn’t get Beatrice up and we decided to let the stallion Beau have a try. He came in and started biting at her neck and he got her up in just 10 minutes,” Donald explained.
Source: The Daily Mail
The Perfect Pair
Beau and Beatrice have been together for 10 years. According to Donald and Jane, they really only prefer each other’s company over any of the other horses in the stable. They have had four foals together now, and Beatrice is the best mare that they have.
“They have a pretty long-term relationship with each other. They’ve been together 10 years. They’re just always together, and they don’t really mix with the other horses,” Donald said. “They bicker a lot. Beau is a big, muscular, and strong stallion, but he gets pushed around by Beatrice. She always gets the food first.”
Source: The Daily Mail
Thanks to Beau, Beatrice is alive and well. He saved her life, and just in the knick of time. Even the veterinarian was astounded.
“We are used to seeing extraordinary interactions between the horses but we have never witnessed a horse saving another’s life.”
Horses truly are some of the world’s most incredible creatures (even lazy ones).
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Sources
- “Horsepower of love: Heartwarming moment muscular shire stallion Beau revives ‘wife’ Beatrice in ten minutes – after farmers spent SIX HOURS trying to get her back up and prepared to put her down.” Daily Mail. Lara Keay, Danyal Hussain. January 26, 2018.
- “Horse helps revive stablemate that was about to be put down.” Telegraph. January 26, 2018.
