Horse Rescued In South Orange County Retires From Therapy Service

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — An Orange County therapy horse who was momentarily in the spotlight after a dramatic rescue two years ago has retired from service, the Shea Center announced.

Choco was working at the therapy center when he spooked and fell into a ravine in 2021, requiring rescue by the Orange County Fire Authority's technical rescue team. Since then, the 22-year-old horse has helped people with disabilities who entered therapeutic horse-related programs.

"Our long-time veterinarian recently diagnosed him with bilateral cataracts and recommended that Choco no longer be ridden," a spokesperson for the center announced. "After careful thought, we decided retirement would be the best choice for our sweet Choco."

The OCFA staff, including Capt. Danny Goodwin, who led the rescue in 2011, was on hand to bid Choco a fond farewell. Many remembered how Choco helped educate about OCFA's Urban Search and Rescue Equine training on horse rescue procedures last year. Still, others were there for the harrowing rescue that united the local horse community.

Exactly two years before his retirement, Choco had a rider on his back when he spooked, then slid into a ravine. He was on his back between concrete slabs, head trapped, and close to dangerously exposed rebar, Patch reported at the time of the incident.

It took the Orange County Fire Authority's technical rescue team and a host of local horsepeople to free and extract him from that precarious position.

OCFA Capt. Sean Doran talked to Patch at the time of his rescue about the danger of the situation. The horse was trapped under a 6-foot concrete ledge, and his head was wedged, making it impossible for him to free himself. Firefighters worked with a veterinarian to sedate the animal, which had to be pulled out horizontally and then vertically airlifted lifted out of danger. Multiple hands were on deck to ensure his safe rescue.

Times are much happier for Choco, who will spend the remainder of his days in Fallbrook.

Choco is retiring after five years in The Shea Center’s program and will be joining his friends Hope and Gonzo in Fallbrook at Rock Hill Ranch! Learn more at: https://t.co/6m9yudHt9C pic.twitter.com/qIjhs0szev
— The Shea Center (@TheSheaCenter) July 6, 2023

"The horse community really pulled together for the rider (during the rescue)," he said. "It was an amazing team effort by our technical rescue team, our air operations crew, firefighters, medics, and the whole horse community."

Related:

'Wedged' Horse Rescued In San Juan Capistrano