ANIMAL SAGACITY

Patea Mail, 4 March 1936, Page 4

ANIMAL SAGACITY

COLT RESCUED FROM FLOOD. HORSE GOES FOR ASSISTANCE. If the r.cent storm lias given us nothing else, says a Palmerston North paper, it lias given us tiro story of the horse Arrow laid and liis nice for help for a yearling colt trapped by the flood. It is a story which will be remembered long after his many victories on the race track have been for-

gotten. Arrow Lad, the sou of Avrowsmith and Jean Laddo, was alwlays a favourite with true lovers of a gallant horse. Ho had speed above the ordinary, and ho was a generous horse, who always gave of his best. He never •knew when he was beaten. It is since his retirement, however, that he has run his best race—a race across country lo get help for a colt trapped and in danger from the rising flood. There was no jockey on his back and no one there to tell him when to “Go," and the course was rough and un.flaggrd. The colt was in dire need, and Arrow Lad know it and that ho must get help, and get it quickly. He succeeded, and Iho colt was saved. Arrow Lad was having an easy time on Mr. M. P. Power’s property at Maharahara, and the best pasture whs his for the picking. His mate was a yearling colt by Gainscourt out of Lady'Flyer, and the pair of them were grazing in a 20 acre paddock, the best part of a mile from the homestead. One side of this paddock is bounded by the Raparapawai Stream, which is harmless enough when at summer level, but a raging torrent during a flood. On the day this incident occurred Arrow Lad and his young mate wore feeding near tlfe stream, which was in high flood and rising rapidly. The colt got too near the edge, and slipped and fell down a IGft bank to laud on a small island out in the flood. He did not have room to move nor a possible hope of getting to safety. His position was

critical, aad if help had not boon forthcoming within a aery short time he would have been drowned. Now it was that Arrow Lad took a hand in affairs. He knew that his junto was in danger, and that men would have to be brought it the colt was to bo saved. The wise old horse dwelt not upon the order of going, but made a bee line across country to get Mr. Power, who was working at the cowshed. The distance from the river to where Mr. Power was was close on three-quarters of a mile—Arrow Lad’s pet distance by the wayhut it must have seemed much longer to the old champion, who had to batter down a gate on his way to the cowshed. Arrow Trad then started to attract Mr. Power's attention, and he called out and created such a disturbance that Mi*. Power told him to go away ami not make such a nuisance of himself. Arrow Lad went away a short distance, but returned immediately and again “ implored’' Mr. Power to take some notice of him. He wos so agitated that Mr. Power realised that something was wrong, and' that Arrow Lad wanted him to go with him. Mr. Power jumped on to a pony and'rode out to Arrow Lad, who . led him straight to the riverbauk above the place where the colt was trapped. Needless to say, a speedy rescue .was effected, and to commemorate the occasion' and Arrow Lad’s wonderful effort, Mr. Power, when the time conies to claim a name for the colt, is going to apply for Aero Lad.