THE owner of Forget-Me-Knot the horse is unlikely to forget 21 May 2004 for that was the day her horse narrowly escaped death.

It all started when the Russian and Dutch warm blood yearling tried to jump over a fence and instead got her rear legs stuck between two gate posts.

Her distraught owner Larissa Demidou, knowing most such incidents result in death called the emergency services.

The Fire Brigade's animal rescue team quickly arrived at the stables in Over Wallop.

Mike Gates, spokesman for the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said that 17 men remained for the three-hours it took to free Forget-Me-Knot. Crews from Andover, Eastleigh and Stockbridge attended.

Mr Gates added: "Saving lives comes first and that applies to animals as much as humans."

Larissa said afterwards: "The fire brigade were fantastic."