Horse stuck in mud rescued in Riverside

A horse who became mired in mud after rains flooded his stable was rescued today in Riverside by a team of animal control officers and firefighters.

The rescue operation got underway in the predawn hours in the Arlanza area of the city, according to Riverside Fire Department Capt. Tyler Reynolds. He said the 24-year-old equine’s owners made every attempt to free him from the quagmire — to no avail.

They called 911, at which point the Horse Animal Rescue Team was deployed to the location. The team found the steed “shivering and hypothermic,” lying in a mud pit, Reynolds said.

Using lifting straps and a rope system, the HART crew pulled the horse out of the sludge, after which he was treated for exposure and shock.

”The horse, it appears, will make a full recovery,” Reynolds said.

HART was formed in July 2015 in response to periodic requests for heavy animal rescues, requiring specialized techniques. Riverside County Department of Animal Services officers, Riverside Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit members and Riverside fire crews all train together to perform the “technical rescues.”