Posts Tagged ‘minor scratches’

Firefighters were called to rescue an 11 year old American Paint horse that had fallen through a snow covered pool cover into a swimming pool in Sherborn, Massachusetts.

When the firefighters arrived the horse was in the deep end of the pool shivering with cold and nervousness. Firefighters considered a number of rescue options, finally opting to cut through the ice and pool cover and lead the nervous horse to safety.

The horse had taken a walk from his barn while nobody was looking. Unfortunately it had not been possible to shut the gates between the barn and the swimming pool due to the snow which also obscured the inground pool.

Spider the horse walked onto the surface of the pool which was protected with a high strength swimming pool cover. Advertisers of this particular pool cover proudly indicate that it can take the weight of a small elephant. Unfortunately the high strength swimming pool cover wasn’t strong enough to take the combined weight of both the snow and the horse.

There were fears that Spider would succumb to hypothermia as the pool heaters were no longer in use and the water was covered in a layer of ice. But firefighters successfully managed return him to his stable in about half an hour. He’d suffered a few minor scratches on his feet and ankles but the biggest concern was the cold.

Spider the horse was dried and treated to a vigorous rub down and warmed up with propane heaters. It was clear that he had not suffered any adverse affects from his cold, mid winter dip.

Pool owners are warned that their swimming pool covers may be able take a lot of weight but if there is already a lot of snow and ice on the cover and then it is walked on the additional, localised weight can be enough to rupture the cover. Combine this risk with the camouflaging effect of the snow and you have an immediate danger. Pool owners are encouraged to put a fence around their inground swimming pools to prevent accidents like this.