Animal rescue team manages to free horse trapped in mud

A team of animal services officers was able to rescue a horse trapped in feet of mud Tuesday evening, Riverside County officials said.

Officers with Riverside County Animal Services and the Norco Animal Rescue Team responded to a call from the horse’s owner about 3:30 p.m. The horse, a quarter horse gelding named Mack, had fallen into a mud hole in an unincorporated area of Riverside County just west of Lake Mathews, according to a news release from Riverside County Animal Services.

The horse and its owner became stuck in an area that was flooded during storms two days earlier. The horse owner and his wife tried to pull the horse out on their own, but realized they needed additional help.

Initially, the horse lay on its side and was completely covered with mud. Rescuers wrapped the animal with straps and slowly hoisted it up from the thick, heavy mud. The horse was finally freed about 7:30 p.m.

The mud "was really thick,” Riverside County Animal Services Officer Tiffany Fuller said. “We had to be careful people would not get stuck. The more we dug, the more water would seep in. It was crazy.”

ALSO:

Rain snarls commuter traffic, triggers flood warnings

Wet December brings nearly double the mountain snow pack

Illegal immigrants smuggled into Newport Beach on boat, authorities say

-- Sam Allen

Photo: Lt. Chris Mayer of Riverside County Animal Services works waist-deep in mud to free Mack. Credit: Riverside County Animal Services

Comments

[uncle_vito]

I thought this happened at Santa Anita with their new mud track.

[uncle_vito]

Thought this was at Santa Anita on their special mud track.

[Dr. Rebecca Gimenez]

Congratulations to the team on a successful rescue! We are very proud of the efforts that you make to keep people and animals safe - it is all about the people and the animals that they love.
thanks for running this story so that those of us on the other side of the US can participate too.