The 14-year-old mare, Shannon Dore, had been grazing in a field when she lost her footing and slipped into the River Meon.

About 15 firefighters battled for three hours to rescue the horse, which had to be sedated by a vet.

She was eventually pulled free from the river, behind The Fisherman's Rest pub in Mill Lane, Titchfield, and reunited with owner Cherie Underwood, 31.

Mrs Underwood said her partner had jumped into the river to try to rescue the horse before help came.

He managed to get her to the riverbank by the time rescuers reached the scene.

Mrs Underwood, of Park Walk, Fareham, said: 'She is my daughter's first horse and for a while we thought we might lose her.

'It was horrific. The owner of the field didn't tell us there was a river there, otherwise we would never have let her graze there.

'I'd like to say thank you to the firefighters who rescued her and the vet from Animed as well. 'They were brilliant.'

Hampshire Fire and Rescue's specialist animal rescue officers were called to the scene, along with the vet from the Animed Veterinary Surgery.

The horse was finally pulled from the river at about 5pm on Saturday.

Cherie's 13-year-old daughter Summer was there to give her horse some mints and a big cuddle.

Mrs Underwood said: 'She has come out with no injuries so she had a lucky escape. She will be on box rest for a week now and the vet will come back and check on her. She is a very lucky horse!'