A horse was airlifted to safety nearly 24 hours after getting stuck in the Santa Ana River over the weekend.
The horse became stuck around 6 p.m. Saturday night, according to Cal Fire firefighters, and although rescue crews were able to get him out Sunday afternoon, he was so exhausted he couldn’t move.
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It is said that two horses and their riders were riding along the river when the horses may have become frightened and ran away.
“My husband and his friends were riding horses last night and I guess they got scared,” Diana Solis said. “So I guess they lost control of both horses.”
It took hours to learn where the second horse was, until community members spotted it early Sunday.
“The horses were located via social media today,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Alex Paul said.
Firefighters say the second horse and two riders are fine and that, although exhausted and in serious condition, the stuck horse is also expected to recover after being analyzed by a veterinarian when it is returned to its owner.
Swift water rescue team members and the horse’s owner floated down the river Sunday to locate the horse, which became stuck in a divot in the river bed overnight.
Neighbors in the area witnessed the tense moments during which the horse, a Caballero named Conquistador, was finally brought to safety around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
Firefighters took advantage of the incident to warn the population of the real dangers that persist even when the rain stops falling near the river.
“When we have a rain or flash flood warning, it’s important to heed those warnings. The Santa Ana River typically experiences flash flooding even after the rain stops,” Paul said.
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