Ute, Horse Float Overturn

Traffic was brought to a halt on State Highway 3 at Kaitoke yesterday morning when a ute towing a horse float tipped over, blocking the road.
Whanganui police Constable Mark Stroud said it appeared the 44-year-old woman driver of the vehicle lost control on a bend about 10.10am and toppled over, tipping the horse float, which contained two horses, on its side and causing the ute to flip onto its roof.
The driver and her 51-year-old female passenger were uninjured but the horses remained trapped in the float for some time before they could be rescued. The partition between the two horses had helped keep them apart, minimising any injury, he said.
Ratana Fire Service chief fire officer Bill Rourangi said getting the first horse out was no problem but the second needed a bit of "manpower".
They looped a fire hose around the horse's belly and back legs and pulled it out, he said.
"There were about eight of us on the rope. It was a big horse."
The horses were shaken but uninjured and yesterday were trotting around in a nearby paddock.
The accident affected traffic until about 1pm.