Firefighters and animal services crewmembers teamed up Friday to save a miniature horse that crashed and fell into a plywood-covered well in Riverside County.
The 350-pound horse named Butter fell about 15 feet into the well, which was actually about 60 feet in depth after water was siphoned, officials said.
Firefighters from CAL FIRE and Riverside County Fire, alongside officers and veterinary staff from local animal services agencies, first responded to the call in the unincorporated area of Warm Springs on Friday afternoon.
In a rescue that lasted until 10 p.m., the horse was sedated and firefighters wrapped her in an “Anderson sling” to safely hoist her up using a front-loader.
When Butter eventually reached the surface, veterinary colleagues dried her off and wrapped her with a heavy blanket.
An on-scene veterinarian treated Butter’s wounds and injected pain medication. Although the horse didn’t appear to have any serious injuries, there were concerns about the possibility of hypothermia.