Horse sinks into trouble after falling into pond in Valencia

A horse in Cullera had an unexpected dip on Monday morning after falling into a pond and finding itself unable to get back out. The animal kept slipping on the rocks whenever it tried to climb out, so firefighters had to step in and give it a helping hand.

A crew from Silla fire station, working alongside the Policía Local de Cullera, managed to get the horse out using a strap. The mare was pulled back onto dry land and, thankfully, was not injured.

Horse keeps slipping on the rocks

The emergency call came in at 1.21pm on November 2, bringing firefighters from the Valencia Provincial Fire Consortium to the scene. The horse was struggling because it could not get enough grip on the rocks around the edge of the pond. Each time it tried to climb out, its feet slipped and it ended up back in the water.

The firefighters worked with officers from Cullera Local Police to find a way to bring it out. They secured the animal with a strap and used it to pull the horse towards the bank. Once they had enough control to move it, they were able to get it out of the pond. The rescue was completed without injury to the horse. There has been no explanation of how it fell into the water, how long it had been there before the emergency call or whether anyone was nearby when it happened.

Why rescuing a horse from water is difficult

Getting a horse out of a pond is not simply a matter of pulling it towards the nearest bank. Horses are heavy animals, and their size makes it difficult to move them safely when they cannot stand properly or find firm ground. A slippery surface can make matters worse. If a horse keeps trying to climb an uneven bank, it may lose its footing repeatedly. The effort can leave it tired, while sudden movements can make it harder for rescuers to keep control of the situation.

The equipment and approach have to suit the animal and the place where it is trapped. Fire and rescue services use straps, lifting equipment and other specialist tools in large-animal incidents, depending on the conditions. A rescue involving deep water, mud or a steep-sided channel can require a much more involved operation.

Veterinary and emergency-response guidance warns that attempts to retrieve a large animal from water should be left to trained teams. The weight of a horse, the risk of it struggling and the difficulty of working around water can put people as well as the animal in danger. Owners are advised to call emergency services rather than enter the water or try to pull the animal out themselves. 

Horse escapes without injuries

In Cullera, the firefighters were able to use a strap to bring the horse towards the edge and get it back onto dry ground. The animal did not suffer any injuries during the incident. There are no further details about the horse’s owner or the circumstances that led to the fall. It has also not been confirmed whether the animal needed a veterinary examination after being rescued.

The emergency call was dealt with by the Silla fire crew and Cullera Local Police, who worked together at the pond. The horse was safely out of the water by the end of the operation. Fortunately for the horse it was back on dry land, without injury, exhausted and probably not wanting to go near the pond again in a long time.