Blind Horse Rescued From Vigo County Swimming Pool
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: February 11, 2013
It was probably the last thing Jack Harvey expected to see on Sunday.
After hearing some noises coming from the back of his Vigo County, Indiana home,
Harvey went to investigate, and found a horse had walked onto the cover
of his swimming pool cover and had fallen through.
Harvey called 911, and told dispatchers the animal was straddling one of the cover's straps that go across the pool in the deep end. He also said the horse appeared to be shivering from the cold.
Rescue crews quickly realized they had a very unique situation on their hands. And to make matters even more urgent, workers say the horse seemed to be going in and out of consciousness and that her head kept bobbing down against the pool cover.
Fearing the animal's health may be in grave danger, the decision was made to attempt to get her out of the pool immediately, rather than wait for additional help.
Deputies decided to use Mr. Harvey's Jeep to try to pull the horse out of the pool. The hook on the Jeep's winch was attached to the harness on the horse's head, and as Harvey began to move the vehicle, his nephew was prepared to start cutting the pool cover with a knife.
After initially fighting the pull from the Jeep, the horse was finally led to the shallow end of the pool, and walked out on its own by way of the steps.
Once out of the pool, the horse was moved to a heated garage on Mr. Harvey's property and treated by a vet. The owner was contacted a short time later, and after coming to pick up the horse, emergency workers learned the horse was blind.
Harvey called 911, and told dispatchers the animal was straddling one of the cover's straps that go across the pool in the deep end. He also said the horse appeared to be shivering from the cold.
Rescue crews quickly realized they had a very unique situation on their hands. And to make matters even more urgent, workers say the horse seemed to be going in and out of consciousness and that her head kept bobbing down against the pool cover.
Fearing the animal's health may be in grave danger, the decision was made to attempt to get her out of the pool immediately, rather than wait for additional help.
Deputies decided to use Mr. Harvey's Jeep to try to pull the horse out of the pool. The hook on the Jeep's winch was attached to the harness on the horse's head, and as Harvey began to move the vehicle, his nephew was prepared to start cutting the pool cover with a knife.
After initially fighting the pull from the Jeep, the horse was finally led to the shallow end of the pool, and walked out on its own by way of the steps.
Once out of the pool, the horse was moved to a heated garage on Mr. Harvey's property and treated by a vet. The owner was contacted a short time later, and after coming to pick up the horse, emergency workers learned the horse was blind.
