L.A. County Fire gets a new horse rescue tool

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is called out to rescue horses stuck in ravines and sinkholes more often than you might imagine. Now, they have a new tool to help in their efforts thanks to the Malibu Foundation.

When Denise DeGarmo’s horse Jane got tangled up in the mud a year and a half ago, it took 50 firefighters to hoist her out with fire hoses tied around her chest. The 23-year-old mare eventually woke up and got out on her own.

Jane is doing fine today, but the process was harrowing, DeGarmo said.

“She’s sedated, she's not waking up, she's bleeding like crazy, and they didn't have a sling, which inspired what came after this,” she told KNX News’ Emily Valdez.

The incident prompted horse lovers in the Malibu Foundation to ask the Malibu City Council for a $10,000 grant to buy the L.A. County Fire Department a horse sling.

“This thing is going to be very versatile in what we need to do for any type of large animal rescue,” Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith said.

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The sling will stay with the battalion chief who goes out on all the major calls, so they’ll have it ready at a moment’s notice.

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