A horse stranded in an overflowing creek in Marengo was rescued by first responders on Saturday morning following overnight storms.
Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts officials said they were called for an animal water rescue in an area off the 22900 block of Anthony Road in unincorporated McHenry County, where a horse was standing in floodwaters about 600 feet from the nearest shore.
Marengo horse welcomed home from hospital after 12-hour creek rescue
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Firefighters and sheriff’s deputies found the horse surrounded by fast-moving streams in Coon Creek, which had overflowed after heavy rainfall in the northwest suburb.
The horse was believed to have been swept away Friday night or early Saturday, rescue crews said.
In a Facebook post Sunday morning, Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts said the horse was standing on a small peninsula with limited direct access, and the depth of the creek at approximately 15 feet made it increasingly difficult for rescue crews to bring the animal straight across.
“An initial team utilized a boat to reach the horse, while additional personnel and a veterinarian worked from shore and nearby access points to support the operation,” the Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts said.
The team of animal rescuers took Nicky Wessel, a veterinarian at Cutting Edge Equine Veterinary Services, across the creek using an inflatable red rescue boat. Once they reached the small peninsula where the horse had found footing, Wessel began providing care, administering medication and taking measures to stabilize the horse, which was suffering from significant hypothermia from being in cold water for an extended amount of time.
Rescue crews then secured the horse using a wide rubber rope to gently guide it to shore.
Afterward, nearly two dozen responders, including swift water technicians, were called in to move the horse from the water’s edge to the roadway so it could be loaded into a trailer and transported for continued veterinary care. It was late in the afternoon when the animal was ultimately transported from the scene to a local facility, the rescue crew said.
The horse belongs to an owner who lives two doors down from Coon Creek, a Marengo Fire and Rescue Districts spokesperson told the Tribune. The owner doesn’t live on the farm property full time, they said, but an area maintenance person alerted authorities about the distressed horse.
“It was a challenging and time-sensitive rescue, but we are pleased with the outcome,” Marengo Fire Chief John Kimmel said Sunday. “Floodwaters can be unpredictable and dangerous for both people and animals. We appreciate the coordinated efforts of all personnel who assisted with bringing this incident to a successful conclusion.”
The horse remained under veterinary care Sunday afternoon and was eating meals and doing well, though not completely “out of the woods health wise,” the fire district told the Tribune.