Fallen Horse Rescued By Helicopter In South OC Friday

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — A horse named Obe was rescued by Orange County firefighters Friday after he fell while on a walk with his owner and found himself unable to get back up.

Orange County Fire Authority personnel received the report of the fallen horse at around 10:30 a.m. Friday morning. The call sent firefighters to the area of Trabuco Creek Trail at Oso Road in San Juan Capistrano, according to authorities.

Upon arriving, firefighters found Obe, a 25-year-old horse, on the ground and wedged in a confined space.

According to Sarah Booth, communications director for the Shea Center, his owner was hand-walking Obe when he stepped off the trail and lost his footing. According to Booth, Obe fell on his side into bamboo on an unstable hill and was unable to get himself back up.

Because Obe was unable to get up on his own, OC firefighters called in a helicopter and a veterinarian from Mission Equine Hospital, who went out on foot to the trail and sedated Obe.

Once sedated, the OCFA helicopter made two attempts to airlift the horse. By 11:48 a.m., firefighters successfully lifted Obe and safely lowered him into the open area at the Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano.

"Shea Center staff provided shade and water for the horse, veterinarians and firefighters... at 12:48 p.m., Obe began to sit up and eventually stood up with the help of his owner and the vet staff," Booth told Patch. "He looked around and whinnied to some of our horses to say 'hello,' while his owner and her family and friends cheered."

No injuries were reported.