Rescue brigade with horses

[Jelmer]

Its really great to read and follow the posts on the forum.

Here´s a video thats shows a demonstration of how the coastal rescue brigade was done with horses in the Netherlands.

Unfortunately there is no English video, but this is in short what´s being told:
When a ship got wrecked and beached in a storm, the local coast people would tried to rescue them. Attempts which weren´t always with good endings. This led to the start of rescue organistations in 1824. Providing better gear and stations.

Whenever there was a shipwreck by the isle “Ameland”, the dairy plant there would use its “whistle” to warn the rescue volunteers. So for example the farmers would know when to stop mowing and bring their horses to the rescue station.
Then 10 horses moved the wagon with the rescue boat to the beach. There the horses where hitched behind the wagon and pulled it with the boat into sea. As far as the boat could float a go to the rescue.
Afterwords the horses where used to move boat, with a pulley system, back on the wagon.

The grave stone shown is a reminder of a tragic accident where 8 horses where lured into the sea and drowned.

This rescue method with horses was done untill 1988. A modern boat has replaced it.
Today only one (of the dozens of rescue stations that did) still does a demonstration how the horses were involved with the rescue brigade.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXsJUp6ZYNg[/video]

[Jay]

Thank you for sharing this link. I enjoyed watching the way the horses worked together, the bigger hitches – 4 abreast-one on each side of the boat, etc. etc. fascinating and some good teaming there. There is so much to see. I found the language not to be a impediment at all. Thanks again. Jay

[Jelmer]

You´re welcome Jay.
It amazes me where horses were used in history and how.

Thank you very much.

Jelmer.

[Author]

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