100 horses stranded on tiny island off the Netherlands

[B33R]

This story is just nuts, I saw it on the TV. I'll add a couple more links at the bottom with better pictures. Take a look at them, how crazy is that?! Poor horses

Dutch rescuers are poised to make a fresh attempt to lead about 100 stranded horses off a tiny patch of land surrounded by flood water.

The horses are reported to be in good condition, despite having spent three nights knee-deep in water. They were cut off in a meadow after a storm lashed Marrum, a town 145km (90 miles) north-east of Amsterdam.
So far 18 horses have drowned. Dutch media say feed and blankets have been taken to the herd by boat.

Firefighters aboard small boats ferried about 20 horses to safety on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. But an attempt to rescue the rest of the herd was later called off when the water level dropped in some places, meaning boats might get stuck.

Although horses can swim and the nearest dry land is only a few hundred metres away there are fears that some horses could get snagged on barbed wire.

The Dutch Party for the Animals has lodged a complaint with the police against the horses' owner in connection with the deaths of 18 horses. The party says the owner failed to move the horses to safety despite a warning about the storm.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6113010.stm

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co..._pageid=968332188854&call_pagepath=News/World

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/02/AR2006110200587.html

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[MCDomains]

Horrible story... I hope the owner of them gets in BIG trouble.

 

[B33R]

SAVED!! :tu:

Rescuers on horseback lured a stranded herd of about 100 horses off a mud-soaked knoll where they had been stranded for three days and led them through receding floodwaters to safe ground Friday.

Before they could be saved, 19 horses drowned or died of exposure from the days and nights on the earthen mound that was turned into an island during a storm Tuesday night.

The plight of the horses has riveted the country, which followed rescue attempts on television and in newspapers after the storm surge pushed sea water into the wilderness area outside the dikes of Marrum, a town 144 kilometres northeast of Amsterdam.

Four women on horseback guided the animals back, and the entire herd — except one horse — followed without hesitation.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061103.whorsres1103/BNStory/International/home

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[dgridley]

Glad to hear they were saved..

 

[faisj]

Strange I am from Holland and I just watched the news...
Nothing was mentioned...

 

[Damion]

It was on RTL4 just now though, don't know if it was Editie NL or the regular Journal but it was mentioned.
It was a nice sight seeing all those horses stampeding of the island.

The surrounding area was big enough for the horses to wade through but at first they where scared untill a few riders with "dummy" horses set the course for them.

If one goes the rest follows...

 

[Robson]

Very odd, almost unbelivable.