Loveland, CO, Firefighters Rescued One-Eyed Horse from Frozen Pond

Jan. 11, 2025

Firefighters from Loveland Fire Rescue Authority donned ice rescue gear to pull the one-eyed horse from the icy pond.

By Brooke Baitinger

Source The Charlotte Observer

Firefighters donned ice rescue gear and used rope to get to the trapped horse.

A one-eyed horse found a way through a fence and ventured out onto a frozen pond that couldn’t hold its weight, Colorado rescuers said.

The horse fell through the middle of the ice and was trapped in the frigid water near a county highway, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority said on Facebook on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Photos show the horse’s head poking up through a large hole in the ice as it wades around in the pond.

Firefighters donned ice rescue suits and broke a path into the ice with axes and sledgehammers, officials said. They fastened a halter and lead rope to the horse’s head and were eventually able to guide the horse back to shore.

Photos show crews leading the soaking wet Appaloosa back on solid ground.

“The rescued horse was warming up and recovering as crews picked up equipment and returned to service,” the department said.

Several people thanked firefighters for their “heroic efforts” in the “terrifying ordeal” and said how beautiful they thought the horse was in the comments.

“Aww poor guy,” someone said. “He had to be so scared and cold.”

“Happy to report a good outcome on this incident,” Berthoud Fire Protection District, one of the responding agencies, said on Facebook. “Remember that ice may not be safe!”