A pony made a splash when it wandered into the garden of a house and ended up trapped in a swimming pool.
Firefighters were called to the property in Coalhill Lane, Chelmsford, to free the creature after it fell into the pool.
The incident happened around 5.15am on Monday October 14.
A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Chelmsford, Great Baddow and Rayleigh Weir attended the scene.
"The pony wandered in, it is not owned by the householders," the spokesman said.
The firefighters used 'skid' lifting equipment to raise the pony out of the pool and back on to dry land.
"The pony has avoided serious injury, but was left in the care of a vet as a precaution," the spokesman added.
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