In East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, a group of horses found themselves in danger after escaping from a fenced area and wandering onto a frozen lake.
Because they weighed around 1,500 pounds, the ice cracked under their weight, and the two horses fell into the freezing water. They were scared and unable to swim due to the remaining ice around them.
A neighbor quickly noticed the situation and called for help. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to save the horses. Leon Clapper, the fire chief from Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder, described seeing only the horses’ heads above the water.
Rescuing the horses wasn’t easy. It was too dangerous to pull them out directly, so the team had to carefully make a path to get them to safety.
As word spread about the rescue, more neighbors came to help. Many of them were horse lovers and brought essential supplies like warm blankets and heaters. Clapper praised the teamwork that made the rescue possible.
Milton Mosier, the farm manager at Quiet Valley, said the rescue was full of emotion. At one point, they feared the horses might not make it, but in the end, they succeeded.
Hannah, another volunteer, said they were all determined to do whatever it took to keep the horses safe.
The rescue ended successfully, with the horses, Gunther and Wilhelm, being warmed up with blankets. Gunther was doing well, while Wilhelm had a few minor injuries and an eye problem.
Clapper shared that while they were all worried at first, seeing the horses safe in the end was an incredibly rewarding feeling. Quiet Valley Living Farm later posted on social media, thanking everyone involved in the rescue. They acknowledged that without the help of so many, the outcome would have been very different. Some of the rescuers even needed assistance after the intense operation.