A veterinarian said she is optimistic that a horse (pictured) will make a full recovery after being rescued this afternoon by firefighters from Sacramento and El Dorado county.
About 1:30 p.m., the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District received a request from the UC Davis Veterinarian Emergency Response Team asking for assistance rescuing a horse that had fallen down an embankment and into a small creek near the southern El Dorado County community of Somerset. The horse had been at the bottom of the embankment for four hours and was on its side, unable to stand, according to a fire district news release.
Veterinarian Cheyl Ellis of the UC Davis response team reported that the horse was unable to make it up the embankment under its own power, but she thought the animal could survive with firefighters' help.
Metro Fire officials said the district has worked with UC Davis for the last two years on a large animal rescue program and has an agreement with the university to provide rescue assistance.
At 2:30 p.m., Metro Fire crews joined Ellis, and El Dorado County Animal Control and Pioneer Fire Department personnel, who had been at the scene for several hours. Using ropes and other rescue equipment, they were able to remove the horse from the creek bottom.
As of 6:30 p.m., the horse was reported standing on its own, eating and drinking.
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