Horse Rescue on Clam Beach

Information provided by Arcata Fire District:

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At 2:57 PM Arcata Fire District was dispatched to an agency assist, horse rescue on Clam Beach. The Humboldt County Sherriff Office (HCSO) was requesting assistance with a horse stuck in Strawberry Creek at Clam Beach. Deputies and an Animal Control Officer had made numerous attempts to free the horse with no prevail. The horses’ legs were buried in deep suctioning mud and she had become buried to her belly. After being stuck in the water for over an hour, the horse was extremely stressed and had become hypothermic.

Firefighters from Calfire Trinidad Station and Arcata Fire District arrived at scene to assist. Emergency workers used large hose lines and manpower to lift the horse from the mud and drag her to the bank. h1Although out of the water, the horse was still stuck in thick deep mud and was beyond the point of exhaustion. Battalion Chief Campbell reported, “Once we got her to the bank, she was wiped out. Her head was down and she was shivering. We covered her up and let her rest in the sun before we tried to move her again. The one problem we still had to overcome was getting her back across the creek that she had been stuck in for over an hour”. The horse and emergency workers were resting on a small section of thick mud and they needed to get her another 20-30 feet before she was on dry sand. The creek mud was so thick, emergency workers sunk to their thighs when they crossed.

Crews wrapped the horse in blankets and allowed her to rest for nearly two hours as additional emergency personnel and equipment were summoned. The additional personnel and equipment included: additional deputies from the HCSO, Calfire High Rock Crew 3, a large animal veterinarian, Hooven and Company heavy equipment and operators, sheets of plywood, ropes and assorted hardware.h2

After nearly two hours of lying in an awkward position, in the thick mud, crews knew they had to get her standing before dark fall. A fire utility was used to connect a tow strap and hose lines to the horse in an attempt to pull her out of the mud. Other team members held hose lines under her chest and hind quarters and lifted as the truck pulled. This action prompted the horse to give one last effort to stand up and she was successful in doing so. She teetered back and forth, nearly falling to the ground numerous times as crews encouraged her to fight. She gained her balance and a lead rope was used to walk her 10 feet to a little firmer ground.

Team leaders from the sheriff department and fire agencies coordinated a plan to use the wooden bridges that led to the beach from the south parking area as a solid surface across the creek. The Calfire High Rock crew dismantled the bridge and moved it to Strawberry Creek and placed it into position. The owner and emergency workers led the exhausted and shivering horse across the bridge to dry sand.

A crowd of onlookers began to cheer as did the emergency personnel who worked for hours to free her. The veterinarian assessed her condition and determined she was ok to walk the beach to a dry trail, staying away from all of the creeks.

Assistant Chief McDonald reported, “This was a real team effort that took a lot of help from multiple agencies. We worked together very well and were successful in the rescue effort. Our workers were soaked from head to toe and I’m glad we were able to help this beautiful animal back to safety before it got dark and too cold.”

The owners of the horse expressed their gratitude to all involved in the rescue effort.

Here’s video of the crew helping the horse across the creek.

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12 Comments
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beachcomber
Guest
8 years ago

What a wonderful end. Great story, Kym.

Eastside
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Eastside
8 years ago

Oh my god, what an ordeal !! I’m so glad everything worked out. Thank you to all the rescue workers and they’re heroic efforts, horses hold a special place in my heart.

Jan Carr
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Jan Carr
8 years ago

Thank you for this story! Thank you rescue workers!!!

nines
Guest
8 years ago

Praise the buddhas of the ten directions.

BubbaB
Guest
BubbaB
8 years ago

What a wonderful story Kym!!! It’s so great to read something about so many people getting together for such a heroic rescue!!! 🙂 Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to make this rescue possible. Keep up the good work.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
8 years ago

I like most horses better than I like most people. Three cheers for the rescuers!

Lazy Skunk Ranch
Guest
Lazy Skunk Ranch
8 years ago

Glad the horse made it. I have a new horse that had been a city horse and never lived in the country for it’s entire life. It didn’t stop running at full speed in it’s 2 acre pasture for a month! With a second city horse now keeping company the pasture looks like someone has been riding dirt bikes all along the fence line from their constant circles.

My question is, why did it take so many people to simply bring a wench and tow the horse out? Glad they didn’t need choppers and slings, but all those people for that? Me thinks way too many city people work those jobs and ride horses these days, because country is the new cool.

Peace & Love- flat tires for camp.

eurekajim
Guest
eurekajim
8 years ago

They might have been able to tow it out with a winch but the horse probably would have been in several pieces when they finished, it seems to me like they knew what they were doing and did a great job.

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Gina
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Gina
8 years ago

Good job on this story, Kym. Glad it was a happy ending… was away and just catching up on the news…