BUTLER COUNTY —A horse rescued by emergency crews from a frozen pond in Butler County on Wednesday is improving and now standing on her own.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Butler County Animal Response Team received a mutual aid request from Andover Fire-Rescue for a horse last seen on Tuesday evening that was stuck out on the ice on a pond, according to a social media report.
The three year old 1800 pound draft mare was 15-20 feet out on the pond but had not broken through the ice. She was discovered around noon Wednesday.
Andover Fire-Rescue was able to move her off the ice onto the shore. The horse was unable to stand on her own.
At 1:30p.m., the Butler County Animal Response Team arrived on scene and a veterinarian sedated the horse and secured the animal on a rescue glide so she could be moved away from the pond and onto level, and drier ground.
Rescuers gave the horse fluids and she was blanketed, and allowed to rest and recover. When she was unable to stand, a Becker Sling was applied, and with the assistance of a skip loader, she was raised to a standing position.
After a period of recovery, several attempts were made to have her bear weight. She was unable to stand and lowered back to the ground. The veterinarian remained on scene administering treatment and she was covered and allowed to further rest and recover.
On Thursday the Butler County Animal Response Team returned to provide lifting for the horse. After an evening of close monitoring by her owners, it was determined that 'Brandy' needed assistance to stand.
With the help of Andover Fire and Rescue and a vet, Brandy was repositioned and the Becker Sling was placed and secured to a skid loader. She was raised to a standing position and gradually lowered so she could bear weight.
After remaining weight bearing, she walked a short distance and was released from the sling. She walked several feet but due to ground conditions was unable to remain standing.
The Becker Sling was placed and secured to skid loader and Brandy was raised to a standing position and allowed to rest and recover with additional supportive veterinary treatment.
With the support of the Becker Sling and skid loader, she was slowly walked from the pasture to the paddocks and loafing sheds, reuniting with her sister and pasture mates. The sling was removed and Brandy remained standing.As the team left, she was eating hay in a loafing shed with her sister