Print
Comment
Rate
Horse ride turns to rescue operation
 |
TERRI JO NEFF
For the News-Sun
A pleasant afternoon horseback ride turned into a harrowing experience on Tuesday, Dec. 21, when a teen-aged girl lost control of her horse. The incident happened near Hummingbird Road, about three miles north of I-10 on Ocotillo Road.
Grace Goeglien's horse, Amuretto, bolted then slipped on the asphalt, getting his front legs caught in a cattle-guard. The horse was unable to get out of the cattle-guard on his own. Traffic on Ocotillo backed up as Goeglien and her fellow riders attempted to free the 19 year-old horse.
One of the first on scene was mail carrier Michelle Galindo. "When I first saw a horse in the road with the cars stopped I thought that the horse got hit by a car," said Galindo. "I was relieved to see he was just stuck." Galindo used her cell phone to call for assistance and stayed with the riders until additional help arrived.
Goeglien's mom, Nancy Casurella, was home when the call came in. Equine dentist Wesley Campbell was waiting with her at Casurella's Blue Agave Ranch to do some dental work on Amuretto. Both immediately went to the scene, where Campbell sedated the horse to keep him calm.
A Cochise County Deputy Sheriff diverted traffic around the cattle-guard through a gate- the same gate Goeglien planned to take Amuretto through to avoid the cattle-guard.
Three firefighters from Mescal Volunteer Fire Department arrived to handle the extrication, while a crowd of about 20 gathered to watch. Initial attempts by Mescal Fire to use their "jaws of life"tool were unsuccessful due to the cattle-guard's heavy steel top beams.
A neighbor started cutting the beams with a blow torch, while a firefighter sprayed water on the horse's legs to prevent burns from the intense heat. The horse had to be sedated again, and one of the firefighter held the animal's head up. Meanwhile, another neighbor came to the scene with a tractor, in case the horse had to be lifted out.
It was determined that a heavier cutting torch was needed because of the thickness of the steel beams. Rocking R Mercantile owner Mark Lee, who is also a welder, brought his equipment to the scene. Lee continued cutting the top beams until Mescal Fire's "jaws" could spread the lower beams and free one of Amuretto's legs.
The procedure then had to be repeated for the other leg. Eventually, Amuretto was coaxed up onto the asphalt, with plywood placed over the cattle-guard to ensure the wobbly horse did not stumble and fall back in. The entire rescue took nearly two hours and required three doses of sedatives for the horse.
Amuretto sustained several small cuts and bruises but no serious injuries. Goeglien, who rides the Arab horse for 4-H, was uninjured. She walked the groggy horse home with help from the dentist and a firefighter. The cattle-guard was repaired and the road reopened shortly after the horse was dislodged.
Casurella reports that after a little rest, Amuretto had his dental work done as scheduled. Although she added that the horse did not seem to really notice.
For the News-Sun
A pleasant afternoon horseback ride turned into a harrowing experience on Tuesday, Dec. 21, when a teen-aged girl lost control of her horse. The incident happened near Hummingbird Road, about three miles north of I-10 on Ocotillo Road.
Grace Goeglien's horse, Amuretto, bolted then slipped on the asphalt, getting his front legs caught in a cattle-guard. The horse was unable to get out of the cattle-guard on his own. Traffic on Ocotillo backed up as Goeglien and her fellow riders attempted to free the 19 year-old horse.
One of the first on scene was mail carrier Michelle Galindo. "When I first saw a horse in the road with the cars stopped I thought that the horse got hit by a car," said Galindo. "I was relieved to see he was just stuck." Galindo used her cell phone to call for assistance and stayed with the riders until additional help arrived.
Goeglien's mom, Nancy Casurella, was home when the call came in. Equine dentist Wesley Campbell was waiting with her at Casurella's Blue Agave Ranch to do some dental work on Amuretto. Both immediately went to the scene, where Campbell sedated the horse to keep him calm.
A Cochise County Deputy Sheriff diverted traffic around the cattle-guard through a gate- the same gate Goeglien planned to take Amuretto through to avoid the cattle-guard.
Three firefighters from Mescal Volunteer Fire Department arrived to handle the extrication, while a crowd of about 20 gathered to watch. Initial attempts by Mescal Fire to use their "jaws of life"tool were unsuccessful due to the cattle-guard's heavy steel top beams.
A neighbor started cutting the beams with a blow torch, while a firefighter sprayed water on the horse's legs to prevent burns from the intense heat. The horse had to be sedated again, and one of the firefighter held the animal's head up. Meanwhile, another neighbor came to the scene with a tractor, in case the horse had to be lifted out.
It was determined that a heavier cutting torch was needed because of the thickness of the steel beams. Rocking R Mercantile owner Mark Lee, who is also a welder, brought his equipment to the scene. Lee continued cutting the top beams until Mescal Fire's "jaws" could spread the lower beams and free one of Amuretto's legs.
The procedure then had to be repeated for the other leg. Eventually, Amuretto was coaxed up onto the asphalt, with plywood placed over the cattle-guard to ensure the wobbly horse did not stumble and fall back in. The entire rescue took nearly two hours and required three doses of sedatives for the horse.
Amuretto sustained several small cuts and bruises but no serious injuries. Goeglien, who rides the Arab horse for 4-H, was uninjured. She walked the groggy horse home with help from the dentist and a firefighter. The cattle-guard was repaired and the road reopened shortly after the horse was dislodged.
Casurella reports that after a little rest, Amuretto had his dental work done as scheduled. Although she added that the horse did not seem to really notice.
 |
 |
|
| Transportation study to shape area's future | Never too late to learn; Bud Clarke, 78, wants GED |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
