Firefighters in central Missouri came to the rescue of two horses on Monday morning. The Cuba Fire Protection District responded to an emergency call involving horses that had ventured onto what appeared to be solid, snow-covered ice but in fact was thin, breaking under the horse's combined weight and leaving them stranded in frigid pond water.
Fire personnel worked in harsh, cold conditions to break through the ice surrounding the trapped animals, creating an escape route that allowed both horses to safely return to shore.
Following the rescue, a local veterinarian examined both animals at the scene. The horses showed no signs of serious injury or hypothermia despite their freezing ordeal.
The animals were immediately moved to a heated, dry barn, where they continue to recover. Fire officials report both horses are in good spirits following their icy mishap.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by deceptively thin ice during winter weather, even for large animals that might normally navigate frozen surfaces safely.
Cuba is located about 80 miles southwest of St. Louis in Crawford County.
