It was a warm, sunny California afternoon. Christina and Pat were horseback riding a narrow, rugged backcountry horse trail in the mountains surrounded by steep ravines, and a thick forest of redwood and bay trees. Suddenly, a retaining wall at the trail's edge gave way, and Pat's horse, Rhemington, fell onto a narrow landing about halfway down the landslide.
A local equine-evacuation team, headed by local horseman Dave Shoen, responded to the call for help, bringing food and water to stabilize the horse, and shovels for the rescue. In addition, a Large Animal Rescue team responded from the nearby Felton Fire Station with rescue and utility trucks.
The rescuers packed equipment down a narrow trail to the accident site, arriving to find the horse calmly standing on a narrow landing to the side of the landslide, approximately halfway down the hill. Considering extrication options, the crew decided that lifting the horse back to the top of the landslide would be too difficult.
"The available natural anchors weren't ideal and would've required complicated rope systems with changes of direction and remote haul teams," said Responder Deb Fox, who owns the Large Animal Rescue Company with her husband, John Fox.
Retaining-wall remnants presented a huge obstacle, as well. "Removal of the twisted rebar, posts, and lumber would've been a big production with lots of activity and noise directly above the horse," Deb said. Such a commotion might've caused the horse to panic. "A helicopter lift was a possibility, but precluded by the power lines strung over the lift point. It seemed like digging a trail out might be the only option."
A Team Effort
Captain Greg Malloy contacted the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection dispatch to request a fire crew. He was told that a California Department of Corrections crew would be sent. Normally used for making wilderness fire breaks, these men are experts at clearing land, said Deb. While awaiting the CDC's arrival, rescuers dug out the landing at the bottom of the landslide to make it as flat as possible.
"We still had to consider the safety of getting Rhemington down the slide to the landing," Deb explained. "We wanted to hook him up to a rope system to prevent him from going over the edge, but Dave [Shoen] was afraid the ropes would scare the horse. Sedation was suggested, but we wanted Rhem to have full consciousness and coordination to navigate the trail. We compromised, and put a front harness on him that would allow free mobility but an easy attachment point if he should go over the side."
