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Mandatory Credit: Photo by Newspix / Rex Features (1644514c) Nicole Graham comforts her 18-year-old horse 'Astro' as members of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and the State Emergency Services (SES) attempt to free the 500kg horse, Saved from tidal terror IT was a race against the tide that pulled at the heartstrings. For three hours yesterday, show horse Astro was stuck neck deep in thick mud at Avalon Beach on Corio Bay as the tide inched closer. Rescue crews first tried to pull the 18-year-old, 500kg horse free with fire hoses, and then a winch before a vet turned up to sedate Astro and pull him clear with a tractor. The crews knew by 5pm the tide would have come all the way in. But within minutes of the waters rising around him, Astro was being dragged up on to solid ground slowly but surely, the team filthy but ecstatic. Owner Nicole Graham (above) said she and daughter Paris, 7, set off at noon when without warning she sunk up to her waist in thick, smelly muck. Horse rescued from thick mud at Avalon Beach in Geelong, Victoria, Australia - 26 Feb 2012 Saved from tidal terror IT was a race against the tide that pulled at the heartstrings. For three hours yesterday, show horse Astro was stuck neck deep in thick mud at Avalon Beach on Corio Bay as the tide inched closer. Rescue crews first tried to pull the 18-year-old, 500kg horse free with fire hoses, and then a winch before a vet turned up to sedate Astro and pull him clear with a tractor. The crews knew by 5pm the tide would have come all the way in. But within minutes of the waters rising around him, Astro was being dragged up on to solid ground slowly but surely, the team filthy but ecstatic. Owner Nicole Graham (above) said she and daughter Paris, 7, set off at noon when without warning she sunk up to her waist in thick, smelly muck. MUST CREDIT PICTURES BY Newspix / Rex Features For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/VLMGGWVJT