Rescued La Pine-area horse down again, euthanized

A 20-year-old La Pine-area draft horse that was rescued after falling in a hole on his owner’s property last week had to be euthanized after being found down in his pasture Monday morning, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said.

A deputy was in the area of Holtzclaw and Green Forest roads around 9:30 a.m. when she noticed the horse, Bozeman, was down in his pasture, Sgt. Aaron Harding said.

The deputy went to help Frank Garden, 73, who was trying to get the horse back up, but Harding said attempts to do so were unsuccessful.

Last Monday, Bozeman had fallen into a hole while he and another of Gorden’s horses that wandered away were being returned to his pasture. The 6-by-4 foot, 2-foot-deep hole had been dug out to repair a well on the property.

Gorden said he’d received the elderly horse last fall, Harding said. He said when he went to feed the horse Sunday night, he could tell it was not doing well and probably suffering trauma from last week’s fall.

A veterinarian determined that Bozeman should be euthanized, due to his age and condition, the sergeant said. Harding said someone will check the well-being of other animals at the location, and if there is a concern will investigate further.

KTVZ 2019