The Monroe Township Fire Department rescued Dixie the horse from a swimming pool in freezing temperatures
Monroe Township FIRE & EMS – Clermont County
NEED TO KNOW
- A horse was rescued from an icy pool on Monday, Feb. 9 in Monroe Township, Ohio
- Firefighters needed ice-friendly wetsuits to rescue Dixie, an 8-year-old mare, from the water
- The horse is reportedly in good health after the incident
A horse was rescued from a frozen swimming pool on Monday, Feb. 9.
The horse, Dixie, an 8-year-old mare, stumbled into an in-ground pool when she wandered out of her pasture in Monroe Township, Ohio.
"Through coordinated teamwork and careful operations, the horse was safely removed and returned to its owner," Monroe Township Fire & EMS wrote in a statement shared on social media. "Incidents like this highlight the diverse nature of the service we provide to our community. Huge thank you to Central Joint Fire – EMS District for assisting with their ice rescue equipment."
Images from the MTFE's rescue operation show firefighters in yellow wetsuits as they pull the black horse from the water and immediately swaddle her to get her warm once she's safe. After the rescue, Dixie appeared cozy in her barn, wearing a winter jacket.
"The homeowner was in the barn working, went to look for the horse in the pasture, found it basically head up in the pool," Monroe Township Fire & EMS Chief Greg Lang told local outlet WCPO. Lang had "recently rescued dogs from ice," but rescuing the horse proved a newfound challenge, he said.
Monroe Township FIRE & EMS – Clermont County
"We initially tried to get the horse out with two tow straps," Lang told the outlet.
The homeowner notified first responders that the horse had fallen into 8 feet of water before they were able to lasso Dixie and guide her to the shallow end, per the outlet.
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"We ended up calling in a mutual aid engine company for the wet suits, for ice rescue suits. Once the crews arrived, we put two personnel in the water," Lang explained to WCPO. "Took a second tow strap, they went in behind it, tied it to the first tow strap, to actually create a harness for the horse."
A veterinarian was on site to treat and examine the horse, who is now in stable condition, per the outlet.
PEOPLE has reached out to Monroe Township Fire for further comment.
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