On the Dutch island of Ameland a great tradition is upheld: to launch the lifeboat using horses.
The local horses from the village pull the boot out into the sea. It is then released and the horses return to shore.
Imagine this happening at night, when there is a storm blowing and high waves are crushing into the shores. Nowadays it is a display for the visitors to the island, but not too long ago this was still reality.



View the images of the Ameland life boat here.



In 1979 disaster struck: the horses were trapped in a deeper part of the shore and drowned. This tragedy is known as the "disaster of Ameland". There is still a grave where the horses were buried in the dunes.