Drunk pony rescued from swimming pool

A drunk pony was rescued from a swimming pool after he gorged on fermented apples and fell in to the water.

The pony, called Fat Boy, broke in to Sarah Penhaligon's garden to get to the fruit trees and ate so many apples he became "punch drunk".

Miss Penhaligon, 28, from Newquay, Cornwall, said she was woken at about 3am yesterday to the sounds of an animal in distress.

Looking out of the window she said she saw a large creature thrashing around in her pool.

She said: "When I looked outside I saw this massive animal in the dark and I thought the Beast of Bodmin moor was in the pool.

"I was terrified, but when I took a closer look I realised it was a horse.

"I didn't have a clue what to do next - who do you call when there's a horse stuck in your swimming pool?"

She called the emergency services and a team of firefighters managed to rescue an unharmed Fat Boy using harnesses.

A spokeswoman for Trenance Riding Stables, where Fat Boy lives, said horses were known to get punch drunk from eating too many apples.

"It looks like he was scrounging for apples in the garden and fell in when he trod on the tarpaulin over the pool," she said.

"It's a good job he's got a lot of bulk, as it kept him warm while he was stuck in the water.

"After he got out he was taken back and checked over by a vet, but luckily he's fine."