As reported by Equine Guelph's Winter's News Flash in "Ice Advice" lack of adequate fencing around icy ponds can prove fatal for horses: "You are ready to protect your pathways with sand, your pipes with insulation, your troughs with heat but what about the pond? Lack of fencing around a pond can prove fatal."
Rescue of horses mired in icy slough
Friends, neighbors, a veterinarian, fire fighters and police pitched in to help rescue horses that fell into an icy slough in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
© 2015 by Prince Albert Fire Dept
Unfortunately for some horse owners and horses, an unfenced icy slough was bad news.
According to the story in the Saskatchewan news, several horses went into an icy slough last Wednesday and three perished. However, thanks to the efforts of a number of people, including members of the Prince Albert Fire Department, some horses survived.
The department was called around 1:15 p.m. CST to a farm east of the city. Horses had fallen through the ice and were stuck in the slough.
The firefighters used chain saws to cut away the ice to get the horses closer to the shore.
"Ropes, manpower and a tow truck were used to get them on land," the fire department said on its Facebook page. "Sadly some of the horses perished before they could be rescued."
When it was over, three horses were dead and three survived, according to the fire department.
The department also thanked everyone who was involved in the rescue effort, including Peter Surkan and Brenda Smith from Park Range Veterinary Services, Lakeland Towing, the RCMP, plus friends and neighbors and people who responded with horse trailers.