Horse Rescued by Giant Harness After Falling into Drainage Ditch

Mar. 15, 2025

First Responders Save Trapped Horse.Photo:Maury County Fire Department/Facebook

Maury County Fire Department/Facebook

After responding to the initial report, the fire department found the horse trapped against a large rock in a drainage ditch on Culleoka Highway. They soon referred to the Williamson County Fire Large Animal Rescue Team, which is the only specialized team of the sort in central Tennessee.

They used a harness fastened “underneath the animal on their legs” in order to “lift them up with heavy machinery” and eventually brought the distressed horse to safety, Lt. Mark Teets toldNews Channel 5.

“You want to stay away from the animal when the legs are down, so this allows us to manipulate those straps from behind the animal, where it’s safe,” Lt. Teets explained.

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The fire department said the horse, named Jack, was out of the hole and on the ground in about an hour and fifteen minutes. Though he needed several minutes of rest, he eventually stood up and a veterinarian found no injuries.

“You could tell it was scared and it did kick and have some moments, but for the most part the horse was very cooperative,” said Captain Dinah Wade of Williamson County Fire and Rescue said.

Jack the Horse.Maury County Fire Department/Facebook

Before the large animal rescue team arrived, the fire department enlisted a local heavy equipment company to carve a path out for the horse to exit. After multiple attempts, that method proved unsuccessful because the horse wasn’t physically able to stand up and walk out.

“The horse was older, which made it tire out a lot more easily,” Capt. Wade added.

source: people.com