Horse Airlifted To Safety After Slipping Down Steep Embankment In California

A normally “surefooted” horse named Deuce was unfamiliar with the trails at his new California home, and had to be rescued this week after tumbling down a steep embankment, officials said.

The Orange County Fire Authority said Deuce is “a strong and confident horse,” who was always “surefooted” on the trails at his former home in Hawaii, but as he was familiarizing himself with the trails around his new home in San Juan Capistrano on Tuesday, he slipped down an embankment.

While Deuce and his owner were both fortunately uninjured, but the horse was unable to climb back up the steep slope, which was covered with thick brush.

Responding firefighters started by clearing a path up the embankment, hoping to lead Deuce up on foot, but he “didn’t agree with that plan.” With night falling, firefighters worked with a veterinarian at the scene to sedate Deuce and place him in a harness for aerial rescue.

A video shared by the fire authority shows a sedated Deuce being hoisted to safety by helicopter. The horse was “gently” set down next door at The Shea Center, which the fire authority described as “a fitting destination, as the center regularly hosts equine training for our US&R firefighters, preparing them for rescues just like this one.”

As the sedative wore off, Deuce remained “exhausted,” and had difficulty standing up on his own, “with pressure mounting to get him to his feet as soon as possible to survive.”

To help Deuce to his feet, firefighters ” delicately hoisted him with a specialized rigging system.” Deuce then walked back to his stable for further veterinary evaluation.

“Thanks to a true team effort, Deuce is recovering in what the vet describes as ‘nothing short of a miracle’ and is looking forward to riding the trails of Orange County again,” the fire authority said.