Patterson Fire Department was requested to assist La Grange Fire Department with a horse rescue.

Thankfully, a couple of our experienced rescuers were available. A crew led by Lieutenant Jesse Greco, responded to Budd Lane in La Grange with our Heavy Rescue, designated 22-6-1, to see if they could help. On scene, they found twenty year old Ronan had fallen into a shallow ditch which was full of mud. Due to the depression and slippery mud , the horse was unable to get enough traction to stand.

“Time was of the essence, due to amount of time the horse was down,” commented Firefighter Andrew Rossi from Patterson Fire Department, himself a veteran of half a dozen horse rescues.

Working in conjunction with Dr. Gabriel Cook from New England Equine Practice, plus the assistance of La Grange firefighters, a rescue plan was quickly put together. Rescuers secured appropriate straps to the horse and, after a bit of equine sedation, slid all 2,200 pounds of horse free from his predicament.

“We’re glad Ronan wasn’t stuck in deep mud, just on top of the mud”, added Firefighter Dan McLaughlin, with this being his second horse rescue.

Patterson Fire Department has responded to five horse rescues thus far in 2023.

Photos by Jesse Greco, Andrew Rossi and Dan McLaughlin.