Watch: Stranded horse hoisted by helicopter in California
Watch stranded horse hoisted to safety in California after the animal lost its rider during a high-altitude endurance race. Search crews and a Butte County Sheriff's Office helicopter found the horse at about 7,200 feet in the Granite Chief Wilderness, then airlifted it uninjured to French Meadows Reservoir. Reports of the unusual wilderness rescue spread after authorities detailed how the animal was sedated and lifted out of remote high-country terrain.
Key Takeaways
- A horse became separated from its rider early in California's Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance ride.
- The rider was found uninjured; crews searched about two hours before locating the horse.
- Butte County's helicopter team spotted the animal in the Granite Chief Wilderness at roughly 7,200 feet.
- Veterinary and technical rescue teams sedated the horse and extracted it by helicopter lift.
- The horse was uninjured and walked into a trailer after landing near French Meadows Reservoir.
What happened to the stranded horse during the Tevis Cup?
According to UPI, a horse and rider became separated early on during the Tevis Cup, a 100-mile high-altitude endurance ride in California.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team responded when the pair was split. The rider was located and was uninjured.
Search crews then spent two hours in a fruitless search for the horse before aerial help arrived on scene.
How did rescuers hoist the horse by helicopter?
The Butte County Sheriff's Office helicopter team located the horse in the Granite Chief Wilderness. The area was difficult to reach and sat about 7,200 feet above sea level.
Veterinary personnel and North Valley Animal Disaster Group technical rescue members were flown to the animal. Officials said the horse was assessed, sedated and secured in a large animal lift for extraction.
A helicopter then airlifted the horse to French Meadows Reservoir, where another group of rescuers were waiting on the ground.
Was the horse injured after being lifted to safety?
Authorities said the horse was not injured in the ordeal. After the airlift, it was able to stand up and walk into a trailer for the ride home.
The dramatic extraction has drawn attention across bizarre news coverage, underscoring how remote terrain can turn a race mishap into a multi-agency animal rescue.
The operation involved Nevada County animal rescue responders, Butte County's helicopter team, veterinary staff and the North Valley Animal Disaster Group working together to bring the horse out safely.