Crews airlift horse out of canyon
Owner says words cannot describe her relief
Emergency crews flew a 1,100-pound horse out of the canyon near Cool Thursday after the horse and its owner were trapped overnight. Owner Alicia Hutcheson’s voice quavered as she described the terrifying ordeal she and her 8-year-old paint-thoroughbred-cross horse Natasha endured when they were caught in the American River’s strong current. On Thursday, Hutcheson and Natasha were on firm ground surrounded by the crews that rescued them. Hutcheson said Wednesday afternoon she and a friend decided to go for a ride in the canyon. She was sitting atop Natasha, who was about knee deep in the river to cool her legs, when the ground below gave away. Hutcheson said Natasha was spooked and lunged forward, taking them both into the current as Natasha thrashed in the water until she was trapped in branches. It was at that point Hutcheson said she was certain death was imminent. “She started flopping sideways,” Hutcheson recalled. “Then I saw the sparkle go out of her eyes.” Hutcheson then grabbed Natasha’s saddle horn and pulled. “It took all the fight in me to pull her up,” Hutcheson said. But they were safe. “From there it was relief, but now what?” Hutcheson recalled thinking. The steep, rocky terrain surrounding them impeded any type of easy exit so Hutcheson’s friend rode out for help. Calstar 3 crews flew in. Hutcheson said they advised her to go get some rest while they decided how to help her horse but the loyal owner refused. “No way was I going to leave her,” Hutcheson said. So she and a few Calstar crewmembers stayed on the shore of the El Dorado County side of the North Fork of the American River with Natasha over night. Relief came Thursday afternoon when multiple emergency rescuers arrived to help. El Dorado County Animal Services officials called in experts from the University of California Davis’ Veterinary Emergency Response Team. Fire crews from Cal Fire and El Dorado County Fire helped the Seahawk helicopter from Fallon Naval Air Station make the rescue. “It was pretty unique,” said Capt. Mike Pott with El Dorado County Fire. “We don’t do this every day.” Pott said “teamwork” made the rescue successful. Dr. John Madigan, a UC Davis professor of medicine and epidemiology, who, along with Charlie Anderson, invented the harness system used to pull Natasha and other horses out of tight places, told Hutcheson her horse was a “star patient.” “It couldn’t have gone any better,” Madigan said of the rescue effort. Hutcheson agreed as she gave Madigan a big hug. She said words couldn’t describe the relief she felt. “I started thinking she would be dead,” Hutcheson said. “Now she’s going to go brag to everyone in the barn, ‘I can fly and you can’t.’” Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.
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What is VERT? The University of California, Davis’ Veterinary Emergency Rescue Team is a volunteer operation that runs on donations. Team members, who include faculty, resident veterinarians, veterinary students and staff help communities in need of animal rescue and pet disaster preparedness. On Thursday Dr. John Madigan and other VERT members helped airlift a horse out of the American River Canyon near Cool. Madigan said the UC Davis – Anderson sling, which he co-invented with Charlie Anderson, was first used by about 1991. Since then, the sling, which can lift “any size horse on the planet” has been used in about 12 airlifts a year around the world, Madigan said.
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pics?
If both horse and rider were uninjured why did they need to be rescued? More info as to why they were "trapped" would be nice. I'm glad they are OK and what a pretty horse :)
Really glad Horse and Rider are OK. What kind of insurnace must one have to pay for this type of rescue?
TNTSIERRA....the horse slipped down the hill and the only way out was air or swim down the river... obviously air was the best way.... I saw it on KCRA tonight...
http://www.kcra.com/news/20967561/detail.html
Stupid is as stupid does. I sure hope that the owner of the horse is billed for the man hours and the entire cost of the use of the hilocopter and fire equipment.
tackleberry, I would be inclined to agree with you if it had been a case of someone performing something that was likely to cause the problem. However just riding your horse or hiking through the canyon is not terribly dangerous and when accidents happen then the first responders come into play. I don't know if you are aware that you pay for their services whether you ever need them or not. Yes, just look at your property tax bill, they are there, sometimes even in the form of additional bonds.
There is a big difference between someone climbing El Capitan and someone hiking the trails and twisting an ankle.
tackleberry i agree, the rivers are dangerous and people have been warned about the risks and danger, but im reading two different versions..one in AJ and one in KCRA.....
Loomisresident " Yes, just look at your property tax bill, they are there, sometimes even in the form of additional bonds" I don't think our taxes are for the huge helecopter out of Nevada. I have ridden on the American River for many years. There are very few safe places for acess to water your horse (Poverty Bar is one). A thirsty horse is better than a drowned one..
I am still interested in the cost of such a rescue. A friend of mine was airlifted (broke his leg) from Rock Creek and his insurance paid $12,000 fo the bill to Calstar and they are asking him to pay the rest of the cost which is another $9,000. Yes, he should have had the Calstar coverage.
The same damn people complaining about tax money and rescued hikers. We should just leave them to find ther own way out right, You just sit in front of your keyboards and never venture out in case of the chance tax money has to save you. Damn Crybaby's
huh????????????
Who was was the recued hiker....Did I miss something....thought iot was a horse and rider???
Darn keyboard can't spell. Niether can I.
I agree with AuburnLocal. If she wasn't negligent, why should she have to foot the bill alone? She's a taxpayer too.
Also, the ground gave way..was she supposed to have predicted something bizar such as that?
Ground gave way....slipped...whatever. all I want to know is how much it costs,
You can probably inquire, but I maintain she is a taxpayer who used taxpayer-funded services.
My friend was a big time tax payer too. Why did he have to pay???? Calstar turned him in to collections for the reamining balance of $9000. His innsurance paid $12000. I guess if you are on a horse you get special treatment????
Still can't type...............
Perhaps we can be thankful there was no fatalities as we were in the Auburn Fire and be thankful such services are provided when someone needs them regardless of their possible foolish adventure near the flowing river. Possible shared expense should be a consideration but I don't think that should be the story here. It is a touchy feely happy ending kind of story so grow a heart people. .
Pretty cold hearted posts. This is why we pay taxes. God knows I have a huge bill every year but I'm okay with it going to rescue services like this. Come on people, this rider did nothing out of the ordinary. Think of the terror she felt floating down the river with her horse helplessly going with the current. For the one crying about their friends cal star bill. Get aflac or something. Glad all involved are okay. So if people want those helped by emergency services to foot the bill, that would mean revictimizing the victim. Was not her fault. The 49er fire was not the fault of the victims either, should we make them pay for the fire/police services? They didn't build their homes of fireproof materials right? Just like the horse and rider didn't have ropes tied off to shore just In case right? See how ridiculous it gets.
Hey there harleyrider
I am not being heartless...I didn't make the statement "Tackleberry wrote:
Stupid is as stupid does. I sure hope that the owner of the horse is billed for the man hours and the entire cost of the use of the hilocopter and fire equipment".
My friend had good insurance...it paid $12000. What would yours pay? I am not victimizing the victim....All I want to know is who paid for the rescue. Helicopters (CalStar and big one from Nevada) Vets form UCD. If it was free great!!!! I can't see it being free even if taxpayers pick up some of the bill.
I'm sure you folks would have a different opinion if it was in fact YOU or your loved one the rescue was intended for. Let this story be a positive one and show your support for the many rescuers and public services involved (they call it public service for a reason). It sounds like CalStar went above and beyond this time with Hutcheson’s rescue, providing for an overnighter on the rocks of the river. I'm sure some one is thinking more about the $40/year insurance plan CalStar offers. Glad to hear you made it out alive Alicia, Natasha is a lucky one!
I Agree. If you were the one in trouble you would not be so quick to judge. Maybe the county the rescued party lives in should be billed. I wish it were Placer. If it were Im sure the CEO Miller and his merry band of assistants could write a personal check to cover it and not feel a dent since they make a mint every month with their monsterous paychecks.
Perhaps she had Horsey insurance! or her homeowners insurance picked up the tab
EZRider, The UCD group are volunteers, they do not get any tax money, it's all donations. I'm sure most of the donations are from horse people and corporations. The chopper is a military chopper, they are used for SAR, fire fighting and all kinds of civic duties all the time at no charge. You can take your hand off your wallet, it is completely safe for now
I don't know the situation with your friend so I can't make any intelligent comments on his case.
To reitterate what I said in the Bee...
Thank you for all of the supportive comments, and to the completely ignorant ones....well, that is exactly what they are, IGNORANT, and I am choosing to look at them that way.
This has been quite an ordeal for both Natasha and myself. We have thousands of miles ridden together and many experiences, although this I never thought would be one. It simply goes to show that no matter how careful you may be, accidents happen. This could have been so much worse, and for a few very terrifying moments, I truly believed the worst was rapidly becoming inevitable, and fought against that with all I could for both me and for Natasha. Thank God it all worked out. We are finally safe back at home, she is safe, warm and comfortable in her stall with all of her other barn buddies.
My animals are my world, and anyone who knows me knows this simple fact. After exploring every other remotely possibility of getting her out of the canyon we were left with this as our one and only option. Knowing the immense expense I could incur, and this was the ONLY thing that could be done, I quite willingly gave my consent, and I would do it again. Shakespeare said "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" I have no kingdom, but I would willingly give all I do have to save her, or any of my horses.
Thank you so very much to all the wonderful support that was given by Dr John Madigan and UCD VERT, El Dorado Animal Control and Fire Depts, …
Thank you so very much to all the wonderful support that was given by Dr John Madigan and UCD VERT, El Dorado Animal Control and Fire Depts, David Turoff D.V.M., CalStar, the Fallon Naval Rescue Team, as well as all my wonderful friends and other supporters I may be blanking on at the moment. My appreciation is immeasurable, without your assistance, we would still be stuck down there, or worse. I can not express my gratitude enough. This is a miracle and you are my heros. THANK YOU
horse_addicted, I'm glad everything turned out okay. With so many know-it-alls posting here, I think I should take them all along on your next outing.
Thanks AuburnTom! I totally agree. It is amazing the assumptions the know-it-alls can make, that really, are pulled out of their butts, with no actual knowledge. I am just so grateful and still rather in shock, it all seems so completely unreal.
Addicted glad your horse is safe, this was a horse rescue as you were able to walk out at anytime. How do you pay for your addiction ? I didn't see you say you were willing to pay or even pay part of your horses rescue As with most addictions the taxpayer usually ends up with the results.
Ya know, some of these "horse gals" that think they know everything there is to know about horses need to be humbled a little. Stuff happens and it happens to everyone sooner or later. Only a 100 years ago everyone rode horses not just snoody women. Was that horse worth the money spent on the rescue? When people cant afford to give thier dog surgery, what happens? Maybe she should of been riding her "husband horse" and he might have been more sure footed!
WOW!!! Ignorant doesn't even cover those last two comments...maybe we should have to post our real names to comment on topics so that these types of people who have no respect or consideration can walk around town with the labels they post.
Wow as a veterinarian who has been on a helicopter horse rescue on MT Rainier that was not a very illuminating bunch of emails or comments to read. What a grumpy bunch of people you have in that part of the world. Lighten up. Non of you are going to get a real bill in the mail and the horse, lady, and rescue people all ended out healthy and happy. Thats great!
Just ignore them, davidrsmith, this particular internet venue gets spammed all the time by the political friends of the local real estate developers who worship the concept of not paying taxes for any sort of public recreational use.
I'm an avid equestrian trail rider. I know that like any sport anything can happen. Im just happy that they had someone available to rescue them out of their predicament. I am glad the horse made it safely and both rider and horse are okay. GOOD JOB, Responders..
wow!! really people? what if that was your child, or dog? or something important to you? show some heart! i'm glad the horse and rider are ok. and she has a gorgeous horse!and if she ever wants to meet up for a trail ride i would be more then happy to join her. i love my horses they are my life! i dont know how well i could of handled that situation if that was my horse. it's not an easy situation to go through. i would of been a nervous wreck during and after.... and thank you to the people who rescued them.... happy trails
I live in Southern Calif. and I saw this on our news down here. So glad they were able to get the horse out safely. I know here in So-Cal riders will cross the Santa Ana river and happen upon some quicksand. The horses sometimes getting stuck up to their elbows. I believe only one has died from the stress and fatigue and shock from being stuck. Cal Star and the rest of the rescue crews deserve a HUGE hug for a job well done
Rebelrose, I'd love to meet up for a trail ride sometime! I always love making new trailriding friends.