Horse throws rider and heads out to sea (From Western Telegraph)

Horse throws rider and heads out to sea

A valuable eventing horse named Abergwaun Rocket lived up to his name on Sunday evening when he took off and swam out to sea after being spooked by a large wave at Newgale.

The six-year-old horse with a five figure price tag was being ridden in the surf by 26-year-old Julian Vaughan, son of well-known local breeder Noreen Vaughan, of Ffos-las, Trecwn, when a large wave hit his flank and he managed to unseat his rider.

"Instead of galloping up the beach as you might expect, he took off swimming strongly out to sea with Julian in pursuit," said Mrs Vaughan. "I had to call my son back because his riding boots were filling with water and he was in danger of getting into difficulties. As I saw Rocket's head bobbing in the waves as he swam further and further out towards Skomer I didn't think I would ever see him again."

Fortunately Little Haven Inshore Lifeboat was in the vicinity on routine exercise and Coastguards diverted the craft, with duty helmsman Chris Baggs and crew Richard Bowles and Philippa Lewis aboard.

"The lifeboatmen and Coastguards were brilliant," said Mrs Vaughan. "At first the horse was frightened by the engine and was swimming round in circles, but they picked up my son and the sound of his voice calmed the horse as they shepherded it back to the beach."

Safely ashore but cut off by the tide near Trefran, horse and rider had to wait nearly three hours before they could wade to safety through the surf. "Rocket, who is known as 'Thug' because in his younger days he unseated so many riders, has Irish blood in him and maybe he was trying to swim over to see his relatives," said Mrs Vaughan.