“Really Bad”: Georgia Equestrian Braves Danger in Creek Rescue, Pulls Horse from Dreadful Situation

The equestrian community is no stranger to the increasing issue of equine fatalities. While some behold unkind intent, others are bitter accidents. The governing bodies of the sport are a blissful appearance when things move in unwanted directions at established facilities, but the remote incidents remain out of reach. However, with the amplified awareness, the latter of the situations haven’t gone unnoticed.

With every named fatality, there has been a welfare organization stepping in to help. Standing no behind, the Large Animal Response Group (LARG) of Georgia had an ensuring reaction toward a dire situation; presented by Cobb County as it witnessed a mare in a dreadful situation.

Mare tangled in dismal conditions

On the 9th of October, a mare in Cobb County got itself entangled in a sticky situation, unable to move. The owners of the horse did not find the equine until late to contact the rescue centers. Jenny Fudge, who is the head of the horse rescue nonprofit Large Animal Response Group, recalls that it was a visibly bad situation on first look. “Oh my gosh, this is really bad,” she said to herself; reports News Observer. 

According to the statements, the mare was showing early signs of hypothermia when the rescue reached. The condition reached the stage as the 16-year-old was wedged in water and thick mud. The family had found the mare stuck in a muddy creek on their property in Cobb County, which prompted them to call the fire department.

It was the fire department that further contacted LARG, which took them a 35-minute to reach the site; summing up the number to 10 rescuers on the required spot. Though the crowd over was calm, the horse reportedly wasn’t taking it well. The team had to undergo a ‘difficult and dangerous’ procedure to pull the horse out of the situation.

Equestrian heroes overcome difficulties to reign successfully

Jenny Fudge reportedly owns a horse farm herself. The condition has hence allowed Jenny and the team to hone their skills to use in times like this. Upon assessing the situation, the team sedated the horse to continue with the operation; which was accompanied by the danger of the mare being 20 feet below.

To handle the situation in the best possible way, the team first raised a yellow encasing around the horse’s face to protect it from hitting the surface. The rescuers then slid a glide under the horse to make it easier to drag and do so without injuring it. “Thanks to all the donated equipment and funds to LARG and Cobb Fire’s skilled/trained firemen, equipment, and brawn, we had everything needed for a successful rescue,” LARG officials said.

Also Read: International Equestrian Trainer Suspended Amidst Growing Concerns Over Horse Health

The operation took a total of 3 hours to complete, but the horse was up and walking in 20 minutes of rescue. The News Observer further reported that Fudge has been checking up with the owners and that the horse has been recovering well. It remains unclear how the mare got stuck in the mud, but Fudge advises the owner feed the horses twice so they have the right time window to check on the horses.

Watch this story: