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The incident unfolded after two horseback riders were riding in the area about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, when one of the horses sank into about 2 feet of mud on the banks of a lake, said the Patterson Fire Department.
At the time the horse became stuck, the riders were about a mile away from the nearest paved road.
The department rushed to the Cushman Road area with utility vehicles to get to the horse, which was showing signs of hypothermia and the 24-year-old horse, Tucker, was no longer able to help himself get out, the department said on Facebook.
"Knowing from previous horse rescue experience that this would be a long an difficult task, no time was wasted in calling for assistance from the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team, and the Carmel, Pawling, Putnam Lake fire departments, the Town of Patterson Ambulance and the veterinarians from New England Equine Practice," they wrote.
Using great care, ropes and slings were placed around and under the horse to get him unstuck. Firefighter Zachary Mulkins donned an ice rescue suit and had to get in the swampy water to assist with proper placement of the rescue equipment, they wrote.
Backboards and plywood were also used to keep rescuers from sinking into the quicksand-like muck.
Once all the proper precautions, treatment and equipment were in place, and under the expert eyes of the veterinarians, the coordinated removal efforts began, the department wrote.
With much difficulty, the hypothermic horse was slowly and carefully removed from his predicament and transported to the New England Equine Practice for emergency treatment.
"A great big thank you is extended to all the emergency responders who assisted with this rescue, as well as the riders, horse owner and local residents who went out of their way to assist us," the department said. "We are happy to add that by the next morning, Tucker was standing on his own and eating."
This is the third horse rescue performed by the Patterson Fire Department in the past four years.
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