It’s a mare-ical!
A 12-year-old female miniature horse ‘Butter’ was rescued from a hazardous 60-foot-deep well last week after crashing through a faulty plywood covering, according to officials and dramatic video.
The 350-pound animal initially plummeted about 15 feet into the well located in Lake Elsinore, California, officials said in a news release. When the water is siphoned, the well measures 60 feet in depth, according to Riverside County.
A crew of skilled rescuers including firefighters, animal control officers and veterinary experts rushed to the scene to tend to Butter, who was desperately crying for help, officials said.
Firefighters quickly put their animal rescue training to good use — constructing a sling that was used to hoist Butter out of the ground with a front-loader, video showed. The veterinary team was able to sedate her before the anxiety-inducing rescue, according to the release.
“It was great to put all those training sessions to good, practical use on a real event,” said Lt. Kyle Stephens, who aided in the efforts. “This was definitely a great team effort by all those involved.”
The rescue team initially worried the force of the lengthy drop would’ve severely injured or killed the small animal, but following an on-sight evaluation by veterinarian Dr. Itzel Vizcarra of Riverside County Animal Services, Butter was cleared without any major trauma, the release said.
She was visibly shaking while still strapped,” Vizcarra said in a statement. “It’s astounding that she walked away fine the same day.”
Following the extraordinary rescue, Vizcarra and her colleagues dried Butter off and wrapped her with a heavy blanket to prevent hypothermia, according to images of the rescue. They also gave her pain medication and treated her minor wounds, officials said.
Butter was later reunited with her owner and taken to the vet for an additional follow-up visit, the rescue report said. Animal Services officer Lupe Villa, checked up on her as well, and reported Butter appeared to be doing great.
