Rescuers airlifted an injured horse to safety Sunday after the animal became stuck on a mountainside near Palm Springs the night before.
The horse, known as “Spirit” in a post on the City of Riverside Fire Department’s Facebook page, was one of three horses that were unable to continue after getting injured in the Snow Creek area Saturday night.
The horses were on a mission with volunteers to deliver equipment to clean up a hiking trail when they became trapped, according to the Facebook post.
One of the horses managed to get free with help from owners, friends and volunteers.
Due to the rugged terrain, Spirit and another horse named “Mo” remained trapped until a rescue helicopter could arrive Sunday morning. The horse owners stayed with the injured animals overnight, the Press Enterprise reported.
Mo’s injuries were so severe he had to be put down on the mountain “so he would not suffer any more pain,” the Facebook post read.
Rescue crews continued to work on Spirit however, and eventually loaded the horse into a harness.
Video shows Spirit being safely airlifted into a rescue helicopter.
Spirit was then taken to a veterinarian who was waiting in a nearby staging area, the Press Enterprise reported.
The Fire Department described the outcome as bittersweet, but congratulated rescuers on their professionalism, preparation, skills and multi-agency teamwork.
