OXFORD, Mich. (WXYZ) — There was no horseplay allowed Friday night when Oxford firefighters and neighbors united to save a horse stuck in a ditch.
Around 7:30 p.m., Oakland County deputies and Oxford Fire responded to a home on North Coats Road after a call that Eli the Horse wandered off from his pasture and slipped into a creek. Officers discovered Eli on his side with one leg trapped under the ice.
The rescue team entered the frozen water with tow straps to free Eli and help him stand upright. Eli was out of the ice but was suffering from hypothermia and could not stand up.
Rushing into action, Oxford neighbors arrived with blankets and food, and the Pan Equus Animal Sanctuary (PEAS) confirmed the horse was in dire need.
Officials say "with some make shift equipment and lots and lots of pushing," they were finally able to get Eli out of the creek and onto the embankment into the pasture. Eli was soon able to get up on all fours and was walked back to the barn for warmth and food.
Oxford Fire thanked neighbors for their quick thinking and support in the cold weather.
