SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — Crews came to the aid of a horse that ended up stuck in a Southwest Miami-Dade canal, Sunday morning, but the tense rescue proved to be a challenge for first responders.
According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, the 1,200-pound animal went into the canal located in the area of Southwest 195th Street and 167th Avenue. "I heard my dogs barking and going crazy," said area resident Doug Swalina.
The owner then called fire rescue for assistance. Crews arrived at around 10:30 a.m. to find the horse uneasy and difficult to handle.
According to officials, the animal had been startled by chickens. "The horse gets nervous around chickens. [The rider] dismounted and was going to lead the horse past that area," said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lt. Scott Mullin.
However, by that time it was too late to calm down the horse. The animal ran into the canal and was unable to get out.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Venom Unit also responded to the scene and jumped in the water to ensure the animal was calm enough to be pulled out of the canal. "This is not a little pony on the side of the road that your kid rides on a Saturday afternoon," said Mullin. "This is a full-grown horse that’s in fight or flight mode. It’s trying to save its life, so the danger is there."
Members of the technical rescue team used their rare training centered around large animals. They were able to brace the horse, and rescuers then got in the water to help it out of the steep embankment. "They were able to ultimately pull him out using a slide," said Swalina.
"Come on, baby, come on!" rescuers are heard screaming in cellphone video shot by Swalina that captures the moment the horse was pulled to safety.
The woman who owns the horse was not hurt. "If she hadn’t gotten off that horse, we probably would have had two victims, the horse and her being thrown from that horse into that canal," said Mullin.
Swalina credited his pets with alerting him about the horse in distress. "You could call them news hounds," he said.
Swalina said this canal is a dangerous body of water. "I don’t let my dogs [here] or my daughter bring her horse out here, because it’s so steep and rocky, and there’s no real way out," he said.
The 4-year-old horse had to be treated by the county vet who was called in. The animal did not sustain major injuries but did suffer some abrasions, including one on its front right leg that had to be stitched up. It was later released to its owner.