This was big news around these parts on Tuesday. I know people will say, "How could this horse get out of her pen?". Well, it happens. Some horses are phenomenal escape artists. I had Misty escape once, barreling up and down the road on front of our home, while people stopped and were waving their arms frantically at the scared mare. When Steve finally realized what was going on, only because someone finally knocked on the door, he went outdoors with a scoop of grain and was able to reel her in. I was at work. I carry an extra lead rope in my cars because I've seen it happen before. An Andalusian farm down the road has had escapees before that we've stopped for.
"An 1,800-pound Percheron draft horse is rescued after falling through an ice-covered pond in Johnson Creek. Lloyd Schultz is the public information officer for the Johnson Creek Fire and EMS Department. He says the seven-year-old horse, known as Katie, fell through the ice (yesterday) after apparently wandering out of its pen. He says volunteer firefighters chopped through the ice, but the pond's muddy shore prevented them from using trucks to help pull the horse out. However, about a dozen firefighters were able to get the horse out of the water by pulling ropes secured to its hind legs."When it came for her to come to the shore her head was sideways and her eyes were rolling back and we thought she wasn't going to make it," horse owner Connie Milbrath said. It took almost an hour for crews to rescue the horse, who was also pregnant.A vet was at the scene and hooked the horse up to an IV immediately after it was pulled from the water.Both the horse and unborn foal are doing well."
17 comments:
I saw footage of this on the news last night. It was amazing. You're right, they just get out sometimes.
They do, some are better at than others. I can't imagine the bill sent to owner from the rescue department. I would bet the vet bill is as much as you would expect it to be.
Scary, scary, scary! And yes, horses escape. Heck, I've been known to forget to hook latches as I wander in and out of stalls and paddocks. Glad both the mare and foal are doing well.
Those people who wonder how the horse got out have never had horses, that's for sure!
I'm glad to hear that both the mare and foal are doing ok. Hypothermia for a foal wouldn't be good. It's a good thing this was a draft with more body mass, I would guess.
Now THERE is something we never had to do while I was in the FD! Probably a good thing- the guys would have had ME out there on the ice talking to the horse...
Glad to hear that Momma and baby-to-be are both doing well!
Wow! That is one incredible story! I am soooooo glad that the mare and foal are both doing well, the outcome could have been much different. Horses do get out. Mine get out about once a year, usually due to someone leaving one of the gates open!
Tracey, I only unlock gates when I'm totin' the wheel barrow or pulling a horse out, but I usually remember and when I feed, I cheat and turn the electric off and crawl between the tape..LOL
Mikael, I agree, I think we've all had escapees from time to time.
Mrs.Mom, I'd have been petrified for the mare, I probably would have been trying to direct...LOL
doggil, Thank-you and welcome!
The poor thing must have been scared out of her wits. Glad she and the baby are doing fine. Bet this won't be the last time she escapes though, they always find a way. Our half-percheron(Donnie) is the greatest escape artist I have ever seen. He once undid the chain latch on a round pen to release his friend, who was in there for an injury.
Arlene, I have extra heavy duty chains around gates as big heavy bottoms like to rest upon the gates and lean....LOL....crafty!
Wow, that's something else! Glad she's ok, and what a brave bunch of firefighters. That's a real dangerous situation.
And you're right. Horses escape. And get into trouble.... all the time!
I have forgot to latch gates myself - just the other day I walked out to do chores and my mare's gate was wide open. And just today I had 3 cop cars and 2 other vehicles in my driveway trying to round up someone else's horses that had escaped their corral. Seems the loose animals always end up in this yard.
As for the houdini's - I have a master. I have to put chains with snap latches on every gate that he has access to. He will work on one for hours. Ohhh does he get mad when he sees me put the chains on. And you don't dare let him see you working a latch, he can watch you latch a gate once and he has it figured out. Naughty boy - LOL.
People need to realize that these horses are over 1,000 pounds (much bigger for a pregnant draft I'm sure) and a little wood or wire fence is going to do a whole lot if a horse wants out. It's all mental that it even works in the first place.
We've had horses fall through ice in a pond before, but we call horse people to the rescue so that keeps costs down. It's such a dangerous thing to have happen, and not all horses in that situation survive. I'm sure it helps that she was young and had good body mass.
I think sometimes they are under estimated in their abilities and craftiness. My goats as well, grat escape artists! I'm glad the mare is doing ok as well.
These female attention-seekers! lol.
Glad they got her out OK.
My neighbor's little granddaughter left the gate unlatched one day. There was nothing more beautiful and more scary than seeing her herd of stunning Arabian show horses galloping down a main highway. My neighbor hijacked the first vehicle that came along and the driver was crafty enough to get around those horses and herd them back onto our road with his car. I then backed my truck across the length of the road to prevent them from making a break for the highway again. By then quite a crowd had gathered, so we handed each of them a halter and got everyone's help in leading the horses home. It was a happy ending.
Yeah , Us girls gotto have the attention!...LOL
Wow, NuzMuz, that's an incredible story!
Hi
These type of females have to attention-seekers lol
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