Horses rescued from frigid pool

Goffstown Editor — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:41:00 GMT

BY SARAH LEBRUN

Jumping into a frigid swimming pool was not what New Boston Fire Chief Dan Mac- Donald expected to do when he responded to a call for help on Friday, Jan. 30.

But that is what he and rescue crews from New Boston and Francestown did to rescue two horses – Zoey, a seven-month pregnant mare, and Cole, a gelding – that fell into an in-ground pool at 206 Colburn Road in New Boston.

“I was unloading hay and left the gate open,” said owner Joan Carley. “The snow was so deep they went into the garden area, and by the time I came up behind them, one was sitting in the pool.”

MacDonald arrived on the scene at 5:06 p.m. and immediately told Carley to call the veterinarian. He and another firefighter then put ropes around the horses’ necks to keep their heads above water.

Appoximately 20 firefighters responded to the call, including New Boston firefighter Dick Moody and his wife, Betsy. The two train horses and were able to help properly place rescue straps around each horse so as not to hurt them.

By 5:43 p.m., both horses were out of the water. MacDonald estimates the horses probably spent about one hour in the water.

“We hung around for another 45 minutes or so to help dry the horses,” said MacDonald, “but everyone was gone by 6:30 p.m. It’s the kind of rescue fire departments don’t do all the time.”

Carley said the horses are doing fine now.

“It took them about a day or two to recover, but now they’re right as rain,” said Carley.

New Boston News : Francestown

Horses rescued from frigid pool