Two horses were pulled from frigid waters on Monday after they fell through the ice of a pond near Stevensville, Ont.
Fire officials were called to a property northwest of Fort Erie where two black horses were found neck-deep in freezing water.
Firefighters worked to rescue the shivering animals that had been trapped in the icy pond for up to 20 minutes.
Rescue crews wrapped ropes around the animals and managed to pull the first horse out of the pond with the help of several firefighters.
Fort Erie District Fire Chief Randy Reichelt told CTV Toronto that firefighters required a rescue truck to pull out the second horse after it became tired and fatigued in the water.
Julie Ayers, owner of the horses, said the animals were walking through a nearby field when they fell through the ice.
“They were frolicking in the pasture and they got too close to the pond – I guess it’s not as frozen as we thought it was going to be,” she said.
The horses, both four years old, were seen shivering and shaking but eventually regained their strength and were able to walk on their own.
Ayers said that if it wasn’t for local firefighters, she would’ve been forced to take matters into her own hands.
“These guys responded absolutely phenomenally. Good thing, because we were going in – they would’ve had a whole bunch of people and horses to rescue.”
Ayers said the horses are expected to recover.
“They’re scared, so once we get them calmed down and warmed up, they’ll be okay,” she said.
With a report by CTV Toronto's Ashley Rowe
