Heroes of the Week: Firefighters help rescue 1,000-pound elderly horse unable to get up

Today's blog is a spotlight on the hero of the week, and it's a group of firemen from Massachusetts, who helped a senior horse. 

(Photo; Whitman Fire Department) 

Firefighters help rescue 1,000-pound elderly horse unable to get up

By Emily Spatz, Boston.com; February 11, 2024

Whitman firefighters helped an elderly horse back to her feet Sunday morning after she was unable to get up on her own.

The Whitman Fire Department received a report of a “large animal down in a barn” on Winter Street at around 11:19 a.m., officials said in a statement.

Upon arrival, crews discovered the “1,000 pound elderly female horse” that could not get up. It is unclear how the horse got on the ground, officials said.

Firefighters requested assistance from the Plymouth County Technical Rescue Team who brought a harness and other equipment to the scene.

“First responders attached the harness to the horse and were able to use a front-end loader to successfully lift the horse back onto her feet,” the statement read.

The horse was evaluated by a veterinarian and is not expected to have “lasting effects” from the incident.