A horse and rider were winding along a coastal trail in California when the ground gave way under the horse’s hooves — and sent them both plunging down a steep ravine.
It happened Tuesday, June 25, in a remote area of the Coastal Trail in the Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County Search and Rescue said on Facebook.
The horse’s rider was not injured, but the horse tumbled down the densely vegetated slope and ended up wedged at the bottom of the ravine, photos show.
“Access was difficult, with no cell reception, limited radio communication, challenging logistics to get equipment on scene, and a horse in distress,” rescuers said.
Rescuers couldn’t help the horse back up to stand, so the teams set up a technical rope system to pull the roughly 1,000-pound animal 30 feet up the ravine back up to the trail.
“Saws were used to cut a clear path, followed by low angle trail rescue kits as well as hundreds of feet of anchor and hauling rope,” rescuers said. “In addition, horse rescue straps, sleds, slip sheets, cargo nets, and J Hooks were all used to package and move the horse.”
Photos show the extensive equipment used to rescue the horse. A video shows the moment a team of rescuers lifted him up and over the slope on flat ground.
A veterinarian cared for the horse and eventually he was able to stand and walk several miles out of the area to the Palomarin Trailhead where he was loaded into a trailer to go to an equine hospital.
“The owners expressed gratitude for this team effort in saving their horse and are relieved to report he is recovering well today,” rescuers said.
Several people commented on the video of rescuers hoisting the horse back onto the trail, calling the rescue “heroic.”
“Congratulations on a Herculean effort to rescue this horse! Most impressive!” someone said under the main Facebook post.
The veterinarian who assisted in the rescue posted an update on the horse’s condition and shared a photo of the 20-year-old Arabian gelding on Facebook. A bandage is wrapped around his neck and a beam of sunlight shines onto his face from above.
“Mr. Chocolatte was discharged from Petaluma Equine yesterday, stopped on the way home at Loomis Basin for a quick check in with his regular Veterinarian, and then home to Penn Valley,” Crocker said. “He arrived safely, and is looking like the rockstar he is, halo of light still around him. This is an exceptional horse, caught in an unfortunate predicament, where the ground just gave away below him.”
Mr. Chocolatte received IV fluids for two days to treat his body’s stress response that caused high kidney values and “sky high muscle enzymes,” Crocker said. One of his teeth fractured during the ordeal and will need to be extracted, and he’ll also need physical therapy.
After that, he may be able to make “a slow return to riding” and “should make a complete recovery,” Crocker said.
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