A 25-year-old horse died after getting stuck in mud at a dried-up pond in Smith County. The Smith County Rescue Squad tried to help on Sunday evening, using winches and vehicles for about 30 minutes. Unfortunately, they had to call in a veterinarian to euthanize the horse, according to WSMV.
According to a post shared by the Smith County Rescue Squad on Facebook, the dispatch was made at approximately 6:40 p.m. The predicament of the horse reflects an unforeseen end to what may have begun as a routine frolic in familiar terrain, crews found the pond dry, but a deceptive layer of thick mud trapped the animal.
The horse's owners had to make the tough decision to euthanize their elderly horse after realizing it had been stuck for a long time. A report by WKRN mentioned that the horse was in distress after being down for a while.
Efforts by the Smith County Rescue Squad remain a testament to the solemn duties first responders bear, as they navigate the delicate balance between life and loss in their work. "Rescue personnel worked about 30 minutes using winches on both the rescue truck, and the side-by-side to remove the animal from the muddy pond bottom," stated the Smith County Rescue Squad recounting the event.
