At about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 3rd, as a member of O.A.T.S. Horse Rescue I was called out to help with a rescue of one of the local feral/wild horses that had fallen into Trout Creek in Summerland. As luck would have it I already had the horse trailer hooked up to the truck and it only took me a few moments to gather up a few items I thought would be useful and I was off.  I arrived to see the rescue well underway with the Summerland Fire Dept.and the RCMP already on site as well as many private citizens.
All were intent on getting a small chestnut horse out of the swollen rushing waters of Trout Creek. I must admit that it did not look good, the horse was on her side and obviously suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia. No one knew how long she had been in the water or where she had originally entered the creek. The banks of Trout Creek are steep and walled with large rocks and boulders, making it difficult to find an exit point where the horse could climb out safely.
All in all the little filly was in the cold waters for at least an hour and a half before she was finally able to be pulled up the embankment using a sheet of plywood, a tarp and LOTS of muscle! She was in full blown shock, unable to stand and hypothermic.At this point we were unsure of what the outcome for this little filly was going to be.
Once pulled safely onto the shoreline, we set to work, drying her off and trying to get some circulation going in her little body. Then the moment of truth, could we get her back onto her feet? If we were not able to get her standing, the RCMP officer was on stand by to end her suffering.
She was willing to try and stand but still to weak to get up on her own, however with the muscle of several men who were by her side, they were able to sort of rock her, while giving her some support and finally she was standing! Wobbly but on her feet.
A big sigh of relief went through the crowd. We gave her some time to adjust and then with the help of ropes and brute force provided by the Summerland Fire Department she was pulled up the embankment and onto the walking path. Almost home free! She was pushed, pulled and supported along the pathway to where the horse trailer was waiting.However she could not muster the strength to get her back feet lifted high enough to enter the trailer. Again muscle power was used and finally she was safe inside and ready to go to her foster home for recovery and to start a new life! Once safely inside the trailer I took the time to actually look around at the people who were there and had been helping. I was surprised to see Ken MacLennan of the SPCA had been part of the “muscle”!

We have named her River and so far she is doing well. Once she started to recover she developed a bit of attitude appropriate for a wild horse that has never been touched most likely before her “swim”.

River suffered quite a few abrasions and lacerations but almost all are superficial. She is on antibiotics to ensure she does not develop pneumonia as she did totally submerge a few times in the frigid waters. all in all it looks like River was actually quite lucky!
If you would like to help O.A.T.S. Horse Rescue with the care of River paypal donations can be made using the email Bullterrier@shaw.ca, or by mail to Box 510 Okanagan Falls, V0H 1R0

If you want to see the video of the actual rescue it is on Youtube at http://youtu.be/90812VbXeZY

Theresa Nolet
O.A.T.S. Horse Rescue