On Friday, Feb. 7, the High Falls Fire and Rescue and Pinebluff Fire Department assisted 4Hooves Large Animal Services in rescuing a horse that had fallen down an embankment into Deep River near High Falls.
The rescue group received a call of an 18-year-old Mare on Thursday, Feb. 6, around 7 p.m. According to 4Hooves Large Animal Services, the owner stated that a tree had fallen on the fence line at the back of their property. The fallen tree had taken down the fence near the steep embankment leading to the river. Three horses were missing, and two, unfortunately, did not make it.
There were too many risks for a night rescue, so a team assembled around 10 a.m. on Friday. It took the rescue team two hours to transport the horse to the recovery site on location. The rescue group called in a veterinarian from Polaris Equine Mobile Veterinary Clinic to provide care throughout the rescue.
Videos submitted by 4Hooves Large Animal Services.
En route to the location, the team began devising a rescue plan. The rescue group had been in contact with the owner that night and early morning. The group knew the terrain and isolated location would make the rescue challenging.
They were unable to transport an equipment trailer to the scene, so they loaded equipment into the bed of a truck. One of many concerns for the horse was hypothermia after being in the cold water during the night.
After making the way to the horse, Tori McLeod with 4Hooves Large Animal Services noticed the horse was exhausted and shivering. She was using the fallen tree to hold her nose above water.
The horse’s recovery from the first contact took around two hours. Antibiotics and fluids were administered to her. Shortly after the rescue, she was able to stand on her own.
“She is alive and doing well as of Monday night,” said Tori.
Information about 4Hooves or to request assistance with a rescue can be found on their website, www.4hoovessmart.com.
Feature Photo from 4Hooves Large Animal Services.
~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Curtis Self. Curtis has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2019.
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