THE Cardigan RNLI D-class lifeboat was launched at 7pm last Wednesday evening (May 28) after a call from the local coastguard to help recover a horse from the River Teifi near Cilgerran Castle.

Two riders had been riding along the river bank when a kayaker passed them on the river and spooked both horses causing them to bolt and unseat their riders. Both of the riders and one of their horses made it out of the water safely but one of the horses was trapped in the river.

The volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew were quickly on scene and immediately began a search of the river bank to try to locate the horse. The search lasted more than two hours until the light failed and they had to call off their efforts.

The lifeboat was launched again on Thursday afternoon (May 29) when local residents reported seeing a horse trapped on the far side of the river bank with no way of being able to get out. In a rescue exercise lasting more than 2.5 hours and working closely with the fire and rescue teams fromCardigan, Haverfordwest and Carmarthen the horse was eventually brought to safety and onto dry land where it was re-united with its owner after being checked over by a local vet.