Mini horse in well leads to large animal rescue in Riverside County

A miniature horse fell into a well on a Riverside County property Friday, leaving the helpless animal stuck and prompting a large animal rescue by multiple agencies.

The trapped horse was reported just before 3 p.m. at 25910 El Toro Road, nearly a mile south of Lindell Road, in a remote area near Perris comprised mostly of scattered properties, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Fire officals said multiple engine crews were sent to the location and found the mini horse in the well without any way to get out. It was unclear if the well had been abandoned or was still in use, but water in it, authorities said.

The 12-year-old female horse named Butler crashed through a plywood-covering over the well in the unincorporated area of Warm Springs, which is east of Lake Elsinore and north of the city of Canyon Lake. Although the approximately 350-pound horse fell initially about 15 feet, the well was actually 60 feet in depth after water was siphoned.

County firefighters were not equipped for the rescue and asked for assistance from agencies with personnel who have the specialized training required to extract large animals trapped in tight spaces.

Among them was the Riverside Horse & Animal Rescue Team, or HART, which is staffed by the Riverside police Mounted Patrol Unit and city of Riverside firefighters with knowledge of trench rescues involving helicopters. Riverside County Animal Services Department officers also assisted.

Rescuers worked through the afternoon and evening and at 9:30 p.m. reported that the horse was safely out of the well with minor injuries. Firefighters wrapped an Anderson sling around the horse and she was safely hoisted up using a front-loader. The mini horse was sedated prior to takeoff.  

Initially rescuers were concerned that dropping further down into the well would have killed or severely injured the horse, but once they raised the Butler out of the well, Dr. Itzel Vizcarra of Riverside County Animal Services examined her on-site and determined the animal did not appear to have serious injuries.

Butter is now back with her owner.

“We were all amazed she came out without any major trauma,” Vizcarra said in a statement Monday. “This was a huge team effort by many rescuers, so it’s uplifting to learn Butters will be OK.”

Concerned about the possibility of hypothermia, Vizcarra and her colleagues dried Butter and wrapped the horse in a heavy blanket, according to Animal Services. The doctor also treated the horse’s wounds and injected pain medication.

“She was visibly shaking while still strapped,” the veterinarian said. “It’s astounding that she walked away fine the same day.”

Butler’s owner was told to take the equine to his own veterinarian for a follow-up examination, which he did, officials said. Animal Services Officer Lupe Villa did a follow-up visit with Butter, and the horse “appeared to be doing great,” Villa reported.

Photos of the rescue are on Instagram, @riversidecountyanimalservices.

Updated Nov. 5, 2024, 9:09 a.m.

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