Dramatic moment two terrified horses are saved from drowning in a frozen lake as rescuers tackle the ice with chainsaws


  • Rescuers used chainsaws to carve a path for the animals to escape the icy water
  • Both of the animals work as therapy horses for young people with mental health problems
  • The horses survived with only a few scrapes on their legs



By Daily Mail Reporter
PUBLISHED: 22:19 EST, 20 December 2013 | UPDATED: 22:22 EST, 20 December 2013

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Two horses in Missouri will live to neigh another day thanks to two heroic firefighters who rescued the animals from a frozen lake after they'd fallen through the ice.

The dramatic rescue happened on Thursday in the town of Warrenton - about 40 miles east of St. Louis - when the two horses fell through the ice on a private lake as their owner, Tina Churchill, watched helplessly.

'It was gut wrenching. I was horrified. It was a piece of my heart when you raise these babies,' Churchill says. 'We bred the mares. I saw them born.'



Brrrr: Therapy horses Meadow and Zihna fell through the ice on a private lake Thursday in Missouri



Heroes: Warrenton Fire and Rescue workers armed with special suits to fight the cold attempt to rescue the animals

Churchill's husband called he Warrenton Fire Department for help as the two horses - Meadow and Zinha - remained submerged in the icy water.

First responders are well-trained in rescuing humans from a frosty lake, but two half-ton equines is a horse of a different color, so rescuers knew they need to proceed with caution.

'They were struggling. They were having a difficult time. We knew we needed to get them out as quick as possible,' Fire Chief Michael Owenby tells Fox2Now.

Luckily, rescuers had practiced ice rescues in new protective suits just two days prior to earlier, so they were ready for the challenge of saving two horses from a certain icy death.



Practice: Rescuers had practiced ice rescues just two days before they were tasked with saving two horses from the ice



Escape: Rescuers used chainsaws to cut a path through the ice for the horses to escape the lake

Rescuers used chainsaws to cut a path through the ice where the horses could make it out, and after about an hour, they made it to dry land - and a thankful owner.

'They’re my heroes,' Churchill says. 'They came to the rescue and were here in a heartbeat and jumped right in a situation they weren’t necessarily required to do and saved the day and saved these horses.'

Chief Owenby was thrilled with the outcome.

'It feels really good to go out and this and get them out of there and know they’re going to be okay,” he said.



Free: Both horses managed to escape a certain death thanks to a brave team of rescuers

The horses - which are both used as therapy animals for young people with mental health problems - suffered a few cuts to their legs but otherwise are OK.

Rescuers warn pet owners to never risk their own lives if an animal falls through the ice and to call the fire department before anyone even considers getting in frozen water.

Read more: Firefighters rescue two horses from icy lake

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