Horse rescued from icy pond

Where is Waldo? Stuck in an icy pond. He was safely rescued. photo provided

A routine feeding session turned into a rescue mission on Sunday, January 11, at the Lazy Z Ranch just outside of Sisters.

When manager Vickie Herring and staff member Sophia Little headed off into the freezing morning, they didn't expect to find Waldo, an 18-month-old bay gelding, stuck in the ice in a ranch irrigation pond.

"When Vickie and Sophia went to feed, they found the entire herd gathered around the pond," said Virginia Loomis, who manages the Lazy Z horse herd with her sister, Herring.

"You know something is wrong when the horses don't pay attention to the hay truck. Vickie called me and said to bring ropes and the tractor."

Herring also called her husband Jackie and the four labored for over an hour to free the horse.

The group could see where the gelding had moved about in the pond. In his attempts to free himself, he had inadvertently moved toward the deeper end of the pond and could not touch the bottom.

"We didn't know how long he had been there, but the water around him was starting to refreeze. He was alert, but very tired when we found him," said Loomis.

Working slowly, they were able to get him lassoed, then turned toward the shallow end of the pond. The ice supported Loomis as she put a halter on Waldo.

The rescuers then began to crack the ice in front of the colt, using heavy hammers and a sledgehammer.

Loomis was armed with a ball-peen hammer and made score lines in the ice, which Little smashed with the sledgehammer. Loomis discovered it is best to stay behind the score lines, when she accidentally got in front of one and the ice gave way, plunging her into the pond next to the colt.

"I had about three seconds of pure panic when I thought he might step on me," she said.

He didn't and she was able to stay upright in the chest deep water.

Little quickly pulled her out and Loomis kept on hammering.

"We had to work slowly, letting him rest often," Loomis said.

When the horse's energy returned, he was able to help as they pulled him a bit closer to the shallow end. Finally, he was able to get his front legs out on the ice.

"Then his hind legs got caught under the ice and he couldn't move," said Loomis.

So they continued to break the ice before him, until his hind legs found purchase on the bottom of the pond and he lunged out onto the ice.

Veterinarian Steve Papa was called and he advised slowly warming Waldo and keeping a close watch until all his systems appeared normal.

He was led to a nearby corral, and the combined effort of vigorous rubbing with towels, blanketing with polar fleece, a warm bran mash and plenty of sunshine soon had Waldo warm and dry.

He went back to his pals in the pasture and appears to have made a complete recovery.

He is a tough little horse, and Loomis says he is as friendly and easy to handle as ever, despite the ordeal.

"He is one we are keeping as a replacement in our own herd," she said.

Loomis said in the years they have kept horses on the ranch, this is the first accident of its kind.