It took nearly 40 people to extract a 1,600-pound Hanoverian gelding from a creek near Orlando, Fla., on June 6. The 17.1-hand dressage horse and jumper had been trapped in the marshy, 25-foot-wide creek with slippery banks for at least three hours before he was found.

The owner of Rex’s boarding facility found the horse. Cristina Arellano, DVM, of Orlando Equine Veterinary Care, sedated Rex, and a group of about 35 firefighters and citizens pulled a dehydrated, exhausted Rex by hand up onto dry ground.

“There were no major wounds, just a lot of superficial little abrasions,” said Arellano. Rex should recover from his mishap. “He was sound at the walk, although he did have a big lump on his neck where he hit a tree.”
Arellano noted how well the emergency personnel worked with her on managing the incident. “They were really helpful,” she said. “Nothing happened that the (fire) chief didn’t plan with me, which was really nice. It’s great to see everyone come together and work together and cooperate