Exeter NH Horse Safely Rescued From A Partially Collapsed Barn Floor

According to this WMUR-TV report, a local horse had quite an ordeal after crashing through the 2nd floor of a barn in Exeter NH.

Average Draft Horse Weight : 1,750 LBS

After watching this story I felt the need to put on my metaphoric overalls and imaginary Sherlock Holmes hat and try to figure out exactly what happened here.

As my alter ego, Farmer Train, I noticed that the mare appeared to be a draft horse. I'm not 100% sure of the breed, but if I had to guess, I'd say she was a Belgian.

Draft horses are a more powerful breed that were once used primarily to haul heavy sleds or carts.

Not only do these horses weigh on average, 5 or 6 hundred pounds MORE than an average horse, they are also constantly scuffing their hooves against the floor.

They tend to communicate that way, as if to say, 'It's time to eat!', or 'I want to go outside!'.

I'm willing to bet that this horse probably scuffed away at a certain part of that floorboard a little too much and when the full weight of nearly a ton came into contact with the weak spot, that whole section snapped in half leaving the poor animal straddled atop the rafter.

Using a little sedative and some straps, the Exeter Fire Department and Patriot Equine Technical Rescue managed to safely pull her free.

My family owned a Belgian for many years and they are just as tough as they are wonderful.

I'm so happy that she was upright and nibbling away at grass within a few minutes.