Two surfers in South Australia have rescued a horse after it swam 2km out to sea.

The horse had swum around 2km offshore, when a local called for help.   Angela Farrier, president of the Moana Surf Lifesaving club was on scene at around 9am after the club was notified that the horse had bolted.   Footage of the ordeal showed the horse had seemingly swam away from it’s owners during its routine exercise.

“He was heading out to sea and the owner was quite distressed because she couldn’t get him back,” Ms Farrier said

A local photographer called for two nearby surfers to help, and along with a local fisherman, a rescue mission was launched.   They swum the horse back to shore, but the ordeal didn’t end there!  The horse, obviously still in some distress took off towards the cliffs.

“When it got back to shore it took off up the cliffs and ended up running straight up the cliff and headed south so then it was a foot chase because he was spooked and he ran,”

“It was a combination of one of our life savers who scaled the cliff and one of the surfers and two of the owners, and police were also helping.

The horse ran dangerously close to the cliff edge, but was eventually caught and once calmed down was walked back down to the beach.

Although stressful, she said the happy ending showcased the teamwork of the local community.

“I was thinking the only other way, if the horse didn’t turn around, was to get the Westpac 1 [helicopter] in to harness him and pull him out,” she said.

The ordeal lasted over 40mintes, but thankfully finished with a happy outcome.