Va. EMS, Other First Responders Rescue Horse From Ditch

May 11--SUFFOLK—A horse can now run without a care in the world after being rescued by Suffolk firefighters, EMS and Animal Control Sunday morning.

On May 8, crews responded to the 5300 block of O'Kelly Drive around 8:20 a.m. after being notified by a citizen of a 1200-pound mare on her side in a ditch. The horse's legs were wrapped around low-lying tree branches and trunks. The horse had been down for an unknown period of time and had visible injuries to its legs as it had tried to free itself from the branches.

Diana Klink, city spokeswoman, said medics and the Technical Rescue Team members assisted the horse's owner with supplies from their IV box in order to provide medications to the horse as ordered by a veterinarian. While awaiting the vet's arrival, Klink said crews were able to remove nearby trees to assist with clearing an area around the horse. The ditch was approximately 3-feet deep and 5-feet wide.

The decision was made to use webbing and hooking connected to a tractor in order to pull the horse from the ditch and into the field. Crews then assisted with rolling the horse over to her other side in order to improve blood flow. After several minutes, the vet and family were able to get the mare back onto her feet.

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