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Calif. firefighters save horse trapped under fence

Orange firefighters worked to free the 30-year-old horse and help it to stand up

By Brooke Baitinger
The Charlotte Observer

A 30-year-old horse became trapped under a fence at a California stable and couldn’t free itself, officials said.

Fire officials stepped in to help, Orange City Fire said in a Monday, Dec. 23 post on Facebook.

“No obstacle can keep us from saving our four-legged friends,” the department said in the post.

Officials weren’t sure how long the horse was “cast,” which is when a horse is stuck on its back or side and can’t get its feet under it in order to stand up. Horses that are cast for too long can die, according to The Irish Field.

Rescuers tore down the fence and were eventually able to help the horse back to its feet after multiple tries, officials said. A photo shows a firefighter holding the horse’s tail as another supports its head.

A veterinarian then assessed and cared for the elderly horse, officials said.

“Happy horse, happy owner, successful rescue!” the department said.

Horses typically live between 25 and 30 years, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association .

Orange is about a 35-mile drive southeast from downtown Los Angeles .

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