A Terrifying Wake-Up Call at Penhale Farm
Imagine being jolted awake at 6 AM by an urgent knock on your door—only to discover that thousands of gallons of water are devastating your beloved horse yard. That’s exactly what happened to Jean Charman, owner of Penhale Farm in Cornwall, when a burst pipe on a nearby reservoir outlet caused catastrophic flooding throughout her facilities.
An employee from South West Water (SWW) delivered the shocking news that morning, but nothing could have prepared Jean for the horrifying scene awaiting her at the yard. “I was told the yard was flooded but I didn’t realize how badly,” Jean recalled. “I went down to the yard and got a hell of a shock – I could see it was horrendous. There were five horses in stables up to their necks in water.”
A Lucky Escape for One Tiny Pony
Among the affected horses was a tiny pony that Jean feared had drowned. “The last stable belongs to a tiny pony and I couldn’t see its head but it turned out the owner had left it out the night before,” she explained with relief. “I thought thank god for that. We’re lucky the horses didn’t drown.”
Ten Hours Trapped in Rising Water
The horses’ ordeal lasted far longer than anyone realized. CCTV footage revealed that the flooding had begun at 12:30 AM, meaning the trapped horses had been standing in water for a grueling ten hours before rescue efforts began. “The horses stayed calm but they couldn’t move – they were trapped in the stables because there was so much water,” Jean said. “The owners arrived and were very worried about their horses – they couldn’t do anything.”
SWW crews worked tirelessly, spending three hours pumping out the floodwater before the distressed animals could finally be freed from their watery prison.
Medical Concerns and Recovery
Following the harrowing experience, a veterinarian assessed all five horses for injuries and complications. While the news was largely positive, some health issues emerged. “One has a chest infection and another is lame but they are expected to make a full recovery,” Jean reported thankfully.
The Devastating Aftermath
Two weeks after the incident, the damage assessment painted a bleak picture. The stables remained unusable, and the financial toll was staggering. “Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused to equipment,” Jean explained.
The nine livery owners at Penhale Farm suffered tremendous losses. “They’ve lost all their saddles, equipment, feed and bedding. The tack room and feed store were underwater – it’s devastating,” Jean said. “My son is a builder and all of his equipment, which he kept in a garage, has been lost.”
A Community United in Recovery
While the physical and financial recovery from this flood will take considerable time, the calm demeanor of the horses during the crisis and the swift response of emergency services likely prevented an even greater tragedy. For Jean and her livery owners, the focus now turns to rebuilding and ensuring such a disaster never happens again.
This harrowing incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of emergency preparedness at equestrian facilities and the resilience of our equine partners in the face of crisis.