Firefighters and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department on Sunday, March 31, airlifted a horse that had been stuck in the Santa Ana River to safety.
The horse got stuck in a divot on the Santa Ana Riverbed at around 6 p.m. on Saturday evening. https://t.co/A6nKKq5Cfx
— KCAL News (@kcalnews) April 1, 2024
A call for a distressed horse came in around 1:40 p.m. for the 2700 block of Shadow Canyon Circle, in the Eastvale/Norco area, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.
A sheriff’s helicopter, with assistance from Norco’s Animal Rescue Team, airlifted the horse to safety around 6:45 p.m., CBS Los Angeles reported.
Crews initially said they were searching for a possible rider of the horse, but later said the rider was found unharmed.
The distressed horse had separated from the rider while trekking along the river on Saturday, said Fire Department spokesperson Rob Roseen.
CBS Los Angeles, quoting Cal Fire/Riverside officials, reported the horse was stuck in the river and mud since 6 p.m. Saturday and by the time crews pulled it out of the water Sunday, it was too exhausted to move so it was airlifted to safety.
Rising water levels along the river following Saturday’s storm may have factored into the horse getting stuck in the mud, Roseen said.
#DearbornIC [UPDATE] 7:00 pm – with the help of our partners at @RSO, the horse was hoisted by helicopter from the riverbed. pic.twitter.com/jFTnfW8vkw
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) April 1, 2024
Southern California News Group reporter Hunter Lee contributed to this story.
