Stranded Horse Rescued and Airlifted During Tevis Cup Endurance Ride

Aug. 3 (UPI) — A horse that became separated from its rider during the high-altitude Tevis Cup 100-mile endurance ride in California was located and airlifted to safety by helicopter after a coordinated rescue effort.

Responders from the Nevada County Sheriff's Office Humane Emergency Animal Rescue Team were dispatched when the horse and rider were separated early in the race. The rider was found unharmed, but search crews spent about two hours looking for the missing animal before locating it in the Granite Chief Wilderness.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office helicopter crew spotted the horse in a remote, hard-to-reach area at roughly 7,200 feet above sea level. Veterinary personnel and technical rescue members from the North Valley Animal Disaster Group were flown in to assist on scene.

Rescue and Extraction

On site, veterinarians assessed and sedated the horse, then secured it in a large-animal lift configured for helicopter extraction. As the Butte County Sheriff's Office described it:

"Veterinary personnel and North Valley Animal Disaster Group technical rescue members were flown to the horse, where the animal was assessed, sedated and secured in a large-animal lift for extraction."

The horse was hoisted by helicopter to the French Meadows Reservoir, where a ground team was waiting. Rescuers reported the animal was uninjured and able to stand and walk into a trailer for transport home.

This rescue highlights the coordination between county sheriff aviation units, humane rescue teams and veterinary professionals in responding to large-animal emergencies in remote mountain terrain.