Saving trapped animal involves rescuers from Putnam, Westchester

It took a multicounty effort involving the talents of the new Putnam County Technical Rescue Team, the Patterson Fire Department, the Croton Falls Fire Department, the Yorktown Fire Department, the Westchester County Technical Rescue Team and the Westchester County Aviation Unit to rescue Niko, an 11-year-old 1,400 pound horse. He had become trapped in mud on Hardscrabble Road in North Salem on the night of Jan. 17.

“The ingenuity displayed by our Putnam County Technical Rescue Squad is something to be admired and I cannot be more proud of them for their success in their first call along side their counterparts in Westchester,” said Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne.

The horse was being ridden around a vineyard, became spooked and took off running through the woods. The rider was thrown along the way. After running alone for almost a mile, Niko became trapped in mud and fell over. The horse was unable to stand up by itself. When a search for the horse began, the Westchester County Police Aviation was called for assistance, as well as the Yorktown Fire Department.

Niko had run into what really was a muddy swamp. Once the horse was located, rescuers themselves were getting stuck and needed to be pulled free by other rescuers. They devised a plan to put down about 20 plywood sheets leading from the horse to dry ground.

To calm the horse a local veterinarian administered anesthesia. Ropes and straps were then wrapped under Niko. It took more than 25 rescuers to pull Niko out of the mud and onto a makeshift sled. The sled could then glide over the plywood onto more solid ground. Eventually, the horse was able to safely stand up. He was led onto a trailer and taken to a veterinary clinic for evaluation.