The Horse in the Rising Tide

What began as a peaceful morning ride along Australia's coast quickly became a fight for survival.

In this episode of Wildest Moments, host Ben Fogle speaks with equine dentist Nicole Graham, who found herself trapped with her beloved horse Astro in deep tidal mud as water began to rise around them. With every passing minute the ground swallowed them deeper, turning a quiet ride into a desperate race against time.

Joining the conversation is ZSL zookeeper Gemma Metcalf, who shares expert insight into animal behaviour and the remarkable relationships that can form between humans and animals - a relationship that, in moments like these, can mean the difference between tragedy and survival.

For anyone who grew up haunted by that scene in The NeverEnding Story, this real-life story offers hope where a generation of filmgoers once felt heartbreak.

About Wildest Moments: Hosted by Ben Fogle and created in partnership with Mountain Warehouse, Wildest Moments is a podcast from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) exploring the surprising, emotional and transformative encounters people have had with wildlife. New episodes are released on the third Thursday of every month. Launched as part of ZSL's 200th anniversary, the series celebrates over two centuries of inspiring closer connections between people and the natural world.

Credits

Executive Producers - Rami Tzabar, Jane Gerber and Katie Derham

Senior Producer - Naomi Oiku

Production Supervisor - Mia Xerri Mondragon

ZSL editorial leads: Tina Campanella and Rebecca Blanchard

Sound Design and Additional Editing - Nada Smiljanić

Sound Engineer - Jon Last

Video Editor - Carla Mercer

Cover Art - Will Rose

Recorded at TYX Studios, London.