Firefighters from the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System responded to a call in Nokesville, Virginia, after a 900-pound pony fell into a canvas-covered swimming pool surrounded by brick pillars and an iron gate. The pony had wandered onto the pool cover during the night and ended up trapped in about four feet of water at the shallow end by morning. Upon arrival, crews realized it was a large animal rescue and called in additional trained personnel from the Little Fork Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

To safely remove the pony, firefighters constructed a ramp into the pool and secured heavy-duty straps around the animal after veterinarians administered a mild sedative to keep it calm. The pony was then carefully hoisted out of the pool and walked to a nearby stable for further veterinary assessment. Fortunately, neither the pony nor the rescue crews were injured during the operation.