Dramatic horse rescue in Patterson

PATTERSON – “Tucker” has a lot to be thankful for this year following his dramatic rescue at Wonder Lake State Park in Patterson.
The 24-year-old horse was being ridden along a trail in a deep wooded area Saturday evening when it ventured into a pond and became stuck in thick muck.
Patterson Assistant Fire Chief Joey Nickisher said the horse started to swim out to the middle of the pond and when it attempted to come back to shore, the “poor horse became entangled in brambles and branches before becoming chest deep stuck in the mud.”
The unidentified rider called 9-1-1 and Patterson FD personnel responded. When they arrived on the scene, “responders found the horse with its front legs immobile from the mud making the rescue extremely difficult since we could not lift the animal. Back boards used to extricate victims from auto crashes and sheets of plywood were used to stabilize the horse while one firefighter donned an ice rescue wet suit and entered the water in order to place ropes around the horse’s belly.”
The animal was gingerly rocked back and forth while other emergency responders shoveled material away and after a laborious 4½-hour operation during which Tucker was given anesthesia by a veterinarian. The horse which was suffering from hypothermia and shock was eventually pulled free.
It was taken to the New England Equine Center in Patterson by special trailer where it was treated.
Chief Nickisher said within 12 hours following his brush with death “Tucker stood up and began eating. That’s one tough horse!”
Assisting at the scene were members of the Putnam Lake, Carmel and Pawling Fire Departments in addition to the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team. Putnam Battalion12 Coordinator Ron Davies also assisted.