Early Monday morning, Washoe County Animal Services and local fire crews conducted a dramatic rescue to save a horse that had fallen into a swimming pool near Thomas Creek Road after mistaking the pool cover for solid ground. Responding shortly after 3 a.m., rescuers worked in the dark using specialized large animal rescue equipment to keep the exhausted horse’s head above water and prevent drowning.

The homeowner’s backhoe was used to carefully pull the horse from the pool, after which it was covered with blankets and taken to Comstock Equine Hospital for evaluation. Fortunately, the horse sustained only minor injuries and exhaustion. Animal services also located and reunited the horse’s owner with a second horse found roaming nearby, concluding the rescue successfully.