In his heyday, no cross-country fence was too high for Able Sportsfield.

In retirement, it appears the 15-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding is under the impression no gate is too high.

Early Thursday morning, Michele Lobsinger arrived at the barn to find her longtime eventing partner dangling helplessly from his stall gate, his left hind leg stuck between the two top rails.

Panicked, Lobsinger made several calls to friends, but could find no one in the area to help her extract Able from his predicament.

“I tried to think, where can I find some strong guys to help me get this gate off him?” Lobsinger said.

Desperate, Lobsinger called Moore Equine on May Street, just a block from her barn.

“(Owner) Phil Meeks was here in, like, 30 seconds,” Lobsinger said. “Phil was strong enough to undo the hooks on the top of the gate, and Able was free in about 10 seconds.”

Remarkably, the gelding suffered only a few minor lacerations during his ordeal, which Lobsinger surmises he endured for around six hours.

Able is also recovering from a bout with laminitis, and has been stallbound for the past 40 days.

“I’m sure Pride (Lobsinger’s new event horse) was outside the window and Able kicked out at him,” Lobsinger said. “I’m sure he’s getting a little fed up having to be in a stall while the others are out playing.”

Known for his workmanlike, professional demeanor in his competitive days, Able’s unflappable personality is probably what saved him from incurring more serious injuries.

“I always talk about how wonderful my horse is,” Lobsinger said. “But once that gate was free, he stood there and just let us lift it off. Any normal horse would probably have started kicking and broken their leg.”

Saddle Fitting Clinic

Carolina Equine Clinic will host a saddle fitting clinic Thursday at 6:00 p.m. The evening will include demonstrations, refreshments and door prizes, including girths, saddle pads and veterinary services. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact CEC at horsetech1@live.com.

Clinic Set for Oct. 6-9

Accomplished Grand Prix/FEI dressage rider Jim Armstrong will be at Mon Reve Farm in Vass for a clinic Oct. 6-9. Lesson times are still available. Contact Charlotte Brent at (910) 237-3715 for more information.