The Montgomery County Department of Public Safety shared on March 10th that on March 5th, 17 members of its urban search and rescue team assisted the Centre Square Fire Company in helping a 36-year-old horse named Red. The horse had fallen in a pasture and was unable to stand.

According to the department, the rescue was complicated due to the difficult conditions in the pasture, the falling temperatures, and the sun going down.

The team collaborated with the fire company’s officers and a veterinarian to develop a plan. Due to Red’s age, the amount of time the horse had been on the ground, and the ground’s temperature, it was determined that waiting for a Becker Sling (a device used for this specific type of situation) was not an option.

Starting within 90 minutes of arrival, the team dug under Red with a front end loader provided by Whitpain Township to allow heavy equipment rigging specialists to use a sling system to lift and suspend Red vertically. Under the veterinarian’s guidance, Red was successfully lowered back onto his hooves. Red is now safely back home in his stall.

The county’s urban search and rescue team has three members certified in large animal rescue. Members of the team are currently completing a 40-hour course on animal-related emergencies, which will raise our number of certified members to over ten.

Photos: Montgomery County