S. Oregon SAR uses Bend training to rescue horse

Over the weekend, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue personnel were called upon to rescue a horse that had become stuck in mud. The successful rescue was made possible by recent animal rescue training in Bend and new specialized equipment, officials said Tuesday.

On Saturday, shortly after 8 p.m., dispatch received a call from a homeowner in the 7500 block of Crowfoot Road, in Trail. The caller’s 22-year-old mustang mare had become stuck in knee-deep mud near the barn. The owner tried for hours to free the horse, but he was unable to do so.

JCSO deputies and a team of 13 SAR personnel responded immediately. SAR members included those with specialized skills in rope-assisted recovery and large animal rescue techniques. SAR worked in the dark to carefully stabilize the horse and pull her from the mud. The mare was tired after the hours-long ordeal, but apparently uninjured.

This rescue gave SAR a chance to use some newly obtained skills. During the past year, some SAR members attended Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue training (www.tlaer.org) hosted by Mustangs to the Rescue in Bend.

Members learned how to rescue animals such as horses or other livestock in emergency situations. SAR also obtained specialized equipment designed for such rescues, which can occur in everyday scenarios and disasters alike.