Firefighters Airlift Trapped Horse In San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA —What wouldn't horse lovers do to save a horse in distress? On Monday, Orange County Fire Authority Large Animal Rescue firefighters arrived on the scene where a horse slipped and fell 60 feet down into a ravine, officials say.

Lola and her owner were in the Caspers Park area of Rancho Mission Viejo when the 8-year-old mare was spooked, around noon on Monday, Patch learned.

The horse's owner says Lola "was bucking" before she fell down the ravine. The owner had to jump off during the incident and called 911 for help.

Orange County Parks assisted with determining Lola was safe to be moved. At the scene of the rescue, firefighters used heavy-duty harnesses to secure Lola. Then, an OCFA helicopter airlifted her to safety.

"Lola was reunited with her owner after the helicopter rescue," OCFA reported.

They lowered her into a corral, where her owner waited to reclaim her. The horse looked relieved to be back on solid ground, according to the video.

OCFA firefighters train for heavy and large animal technical rescues, but it isn't every day firefighters get to airlift a horse.

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