This is the heartwarming moment a dying shire horse was saved by her stable companion after their owners spent six hours trying to get her to stand up.
Beatrice was found collapsed and face down in her stable after suffering equine colic and severe abdominal pain.
Because she was so heavy, the longer she remained on the floor, the greater her risk of fatal organ failure.
Her owners Donald MacIntyre and his wife Jane Lipington had tried and failed for six hours with the help of four farm workers to get her to her feet.
But just 20 minutes before they were due to put her down, her stablemate Beau saved the day – bounding towards her and getting her to stand up.
Beatrice the shire horse (pictured) was found collapsed and face down in her stable in Somerset after suffering equine colic and severe abdominal pain
But just 20 minutes before her owners were due to put her down, after battling for six hours to get her to stand up, her stablemate Beau (pictured) saved the day – bounding towards her and getting her to her feet
The couple, of Langridge, near Bath, Somerset, first knew something was wrong when they walked in and found her lying prostrate on the ground at around 9am.
Weighing a tonne, she had caused her legs to go dead and was unable to stand up.
Pressure had also built up on her internal organs, which caused her temperature to drop and heart rate to increase.
On their vets advice they attempted to turn Beatrice over on her other side.
But even after strapping her up and tying her to a tractor, they were unable to.
After battling for six hours, they decided to give the 16-year-old horse a deadline, after which they would make the call to have her put down.
But just in the nick of time Beatrice’s 11-year-old companion Beau was let out of her stable.
Weighing a tonne, Beatrice (pictured left) had caused her legs to go dead and was unable to stand up. Pressure had also built up on her internal organs, which caused her temperature to drop and heart rate to increase. She is pictured with stablemate Beau and owner Donald
After battling for six hours, owners Donald MacIntyre (pictured) and his wife Jane Lipington decided to give the 16-year-old horse a deadline, after which they would make the call to have her put down
But just in the nick of time Beatrice’s (left) 11-year-old companion Beau (right) was let out of her stable and came bounding towards her. Pictured with owner Donald
Instead of heading to the yard, the stallion ran towards his friend, muzzling at her head from over the stable door.
He began biting at Beatrice’s neck, grabbing hold of her halter and shaking it.
As his amazed owners watched on in awe, Beatrice began to stand up. She has since made a full recovery.
Ms Lipington, 60, said: ‘It is absolutely astonishing. We were prepared to lose her and had arranged for her to be put down but Beau knew what to do.
‘We let him out in the yard for a walk about but he marched across the intervening stable and leaned over the partition and started nipping at her, getting hold of her halter with his teeth and shaking it.
‘He then lifted her head up and lifted her into a more upright position. We all watched with amazement.
‘He lifted her so that her chest and legs came up off the ground, with a little encouragement from us she got shakily to her feet and we quickly walked her out into the yard trying to stop her falling down.
The look of love: Beau (right) began biting at Beatrice’s neck, grabbing hold of her halter and shaking it. As his amazed owners watched on in awe, Beatrice (left) began to stand up. She has since made a full recovery
‘As we were walking her we phoned to cancel her being put down. It was that close. Our vet who was astounded.
‘We are used to seeing extraordinary interactions between the horses but we have never witnessed a horse saving another’s life.
‘Beau achieved what six hours of human endeavour with straps and machinery had failed to – he managed to lift Beatrice up off the floor which has allowed her to live on.’
Mr MacIntyre, 68, added: ‘I haven’t seen anything like it before. They are long term companions and Beau was well aware of what was going on in the stable next door.
The horses have been friends for four years and the couple have 23 shire horses on their farm where they keep the rare breed
‘The first chance he had when he was let out he went straight for her to help.’
The horses have been friends for four years and the couple have 23 shire horses on their farm where they keep the rare breed.
Ms Lipington added: ‘Four of us could not move her. A friend who has experience of turning cows arrived.
‘He helped us attach a strap under her hind leg, through the roof structure of the barn to a tractor in the yard.
‘We managed to flip her over but made no effort to get up.’
Ms Lipington, 60, said: ‘It is absolutely astonishing. We were prepared to lose her and had arranged for her to be put down but Beau knew what to do.’