Firefighters rescued a dehydrated horse that got stuck after falling 30 feet down a hillside in the Sunland area of Los Angeles Friday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
The 30-year-old horse named Sunny didn’t appear to be injured but was having trouble getting back up after getting stuck on private property near the 11300 block of North Oro Vista Avenue shortly before 7 a.m., officials said.
LAFD officials said the horse may have possible fallen at about 3 p.m.
After two unsuccessful attempts to get the approximately 1,000 pound horse back up, the department said Sunny would have to be hoisted up with a helicopter.
Video showed firefighters crowding around the brown horse as he lay on his side in the patchy hillside. At one point, the responders were seen attempting to pull the horse up as it struggled and then collapsed.
One of the animal’s hind legs appeared lodged in the dirt.
LAFD said Sunny was medicated and strapped with specialized equipment to prepare for the long rope hoist.
At about 10 a.m., aerial video from Sky5 showed an LAFD helicopter lifting the horse up and carrying him to a nearby corral, where he was lowered on his side.
Officials said the horse was taken back to his corral and was examined by a vet, who said Sunny was not injured and was just dehydrated, according to the fire department.
Sunny was given IV fluids to help with his recovery and was seen been walked around the corral.
#sunnythehorse getting IV Fluids to help in his recovery by @LACityPets #SMART members 🐴 ❤️ 📷 #LAFD @PIOErikScott pic.twitter.com/6avZmCRyE5
— LAFD Talk (@LAFDtalk) August 9, 2019
#sunnythehorse is now safely resting in his corral It was a looong night for the poor guy and #LAFD hopes he fully recovers this experience It takes #teamwork @LAFDvalley @LAFDAirOps @LACityPets 🐴 pic.twitter.com/3BR3JD5QA5
— LAFD Talk (@LAFDtalk) August 9, 2019
Update: An LAFD helicopter hoisted Sunny, a 30-year-old horse, back to his corral to be examined by a vethttps://t.co/oIRT0DHaE4 pic.twitter.com/tc1bg2cAVJ
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 9, 2019
#sunnythehorse has now been hoisted up and safely placed into his corral by tremendous #teamwork by Your #LAFD @LACityPets and @LAFDAirOps A vet can now give him a thorough exam 📷 @PIOErikScott #horserescue pic.twitter.com/wvcTnQ9Zu9
— LAFD Talk (@LAFDtalk) August 9, 2019
Firefighters are working to rescue a horse that is stuck in a hillside in Sunland area of L.A. Officials say the horse does not appear to be injured, but it is having trouble getting back up pic.twitter.com/jveNyEwgnc
— KTLA (@KTLA) August 9, 2019