FRANKLIN, INDIANA – In a remarkable tale of equine survival, a horse has been rescued after being trapped at the bottom of a well for an estimated two days. While many have heralded the efforts of the emergency services as “heroic”, others are less impressed: “I mean, it’s a horse. They’re not exactly rocket scientists” quipped local resident Tara Johnson.
The ordeal began when the animal – whose name has not been released – was grazing in a field next to the old and disused well. Despite numerous warning signs and a perimeter fence, the horse simply wandered too close to the edge and fell in. “It’s hardly surprising,” remarked Johnson. “My toddler has more common sense than that horse.”
Fortunately, the horse was discovered by a passer-by who heard its faint neighs. They called 911, who in turn called the local fire department. And so began a race against time to save the equine’s life.
Franklin Fire Chief Richard Hamlin described the rescue efforts as “incredibly challenging”. The well, which was constructed in the late 1800s, was approximately 16 feet deep and contained only a few feet of stagnant water. The horse was unable to climb the smooth stone walls and was becoming increasingly distressed. “I’m not going to lie, the horse was starting to get on my nerves” remarked firefighter Dave Johnson. “It wouldn’t stop whinnying. I was so glad when we finally got it out.”
The rescue operation involved a complex system of pulleys and ropes to hoist the horse out of the well. “It was like something out of an action movie” exclaimed one bystander, somewhat over-enthusiastically. “I mean sure, the horse was just standing there the whole time, but the firefighters were really doing some heavy lifting”.
Despite the horse being covered in grime and cobwebs, and appearing understandably shaken, it was able to walk away from the incident unharmed. “It was a miracle, really,” noted Chief Hamlin. “We were expecting the worst, but the horse was remarkably resilient”.
Some, however, are questioning the amount of resources that were allocated to the rescue effort. “I know it must have been tough for the horse, and I’m glad it’s okay” said Franklin resident Susan Smith. “But did we really need to deploy the entire fire department for a horse stuck in a well? It’s not like it was a person or anything”.
Regardless of opinion, the incident has highlighted the importance of safety measures when it comes to abandoned wells and the need for caution around deep holes. “At least the horse has learned its lesson” quipped Tara Johnson. “I’ll bet it won’t be straying too close to any wells again”.
