A SIX-YEAR-OLD horse was tempted out of a field by a garden of luscious long grass before falling feet first into a private swimming pool.

Four fire crews, including a specialist animal rescue team, were called to rescue Taz after the horse found its hooves were no longer on a springy lawn but a swimming pool cover instead.

Fortunately Taz was not injured as the water, which went up its flank, helped cushion the fall at the home off Glebe Lane, Abberton.

85-year-old Walter Schwarz, who has lived there for more than 30 years, told the Gazette it has happened "three of four times" over the decades and the fire brigade always help out.

He explained: "The horse got out of its field and into our garden.

"It belongs to a friend and I saw it munching on the garden.

"I wanted to save the garden and there was a field it could have got to.

"So I opened the gate for the field but it did not want to go.

"It loved the new long grass on our lawn too much.

"I tried to put a halter on it but it ran away and over the swimming pool cover.

"It went in feet first.

"In the 35 years we have been here it has occurred three or four times with a horse falling into the swimming pool.

"Each time the firefighters have come to help and been superb.

"They are experienced at it.

"The horse was not injured but had to be sedated.

"Luckily it is well trained horse and the owner was there to calm it down."

The incident took place shortly before 11am yesterday.

A spokesman for Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: "Firefighters rescued a horse from a private swimming pool in Abberton after it fell into the pool and couldn't get out.

"A team of firefighters specially trained in large animal rescues attended the incident along with firefighters from Great Baddow and Colchester.

"The horse, named Taz, was kept calm and halted by its owner while the pool was drained to help in the rescue.

"A vet also attended the incident to sedate the horse so it could be rescued safely.

"The fire crews used animal rescue equipment including strops and ropes to rescue the horse.

"Taz was not injured by the fall or rescue, and was left in the care of the owners at 1pm."